Rancho Cucamonga Receives Awards for its Sustainable Community Action Plan and Energy Efficiency Efforts

Rancho Cucamonga, Ca – The City of Rancho Cucamonga received the Cool Planet Award for exemplary leadership in energy and carbon management from The Climate Registry and Southern California Edison (SCE). The Cool Planet Award celebrates SCE business customers who implement energy efficiency projects, participate in demand response programs, conduct energy audits, and establish environmental and greenhouse gas emissions management systems. The recognition was primarily for our streetlight retrofit project, Sustainable Community Action Plan and demand response participation. Ten awardees were recognized, and Rancho Cucamonga was the only city recognized in San Bernardino County. The award ceremony was held at Sony Studios in Culver on October 19, 2018.

“The Cool Planet Award recognizes businesses that incorporate sustainability into their long-term plans,” said Ann McCabe, Interim Executive Director of The Climate Registry. “Congratulations to all Award recipients that have demonstrated a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint by working alongside SCE in order to manage their energy use.”

The City has been honored with multiple awards this year for its Sustainable Community Action Plan and robust energy efficiency efforts. This includes the Green Region Award from Southern California Association of

Governments (SCAG), Innovation in Green Community Award from American Planning Association Inland Empire Section and California Chapter, Platinum Level Beacon Spotlight Award for achieving a 23% energy savings from the Institute for Local Government, and the Red Tape to Red Carpet Award for Sustainable and Green Development from the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. 

Rancho Cucamonga Mayor, L. Dennis Michael stated, “Being a recipient of these awards truly authenticates the City’s holistic approach to sustainability that encompasses a collaborative community input process.”

These impressive accomplishments were achieved by implementing an increasing amount of sustainability initiatives including expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, partnering with GRID Alternatives to install no-cost solar powered systems on ten homes for low-income Rancho Cucamonga families, releasing a Request for Proposal for the SolarRC Expansion Project for five additional city and fire facilities, and installing “green bike lanes” at key intersections throughout the City.

These recognitions reinforce that the Plan is truly the vision and roadmap for Rancho Cucamonga’s sustainable future. Key areas of the Plan include energy and water efficiency, land use and open space, transportation and mobility, green building and waste reduction while addressing economy and community health and equity throughout. This approach utilizes a unique triple-bottom line analysis to drive holistic and comprehensive sustainable change throughout the community. The City’s participation in all of these award programs aligns the Healthy RC Initiative program, which strives towards a healthy and sustainable Rancho Cucamonga by adopting policies and implementing programs and strategies that advance health and environmental sustainability in the community.

For More Information – For more information please contact Deborah Allen, Management Aide-Sustainability, at (909) 774-2047 or by email at Deborah.Allen@CityofRC.us. For more information on the green programs, energy efficiency, and solar programs available please visit www.HealthyRC.com.

The City of Rancho Cucamonga encompasses 40.1 square miles and is located 40 miles east of Los Angeles; considered to be the premier city in the Inland Empire, Rancho Cucamonga is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Southern California with a current population of over 175,000 residents. Information regarding the City and the programs and services provided to the community can be found at www.CityofRC.us.