Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced today that the cities of Calipatria, Carson and Santa Ana will each receive a $50,000 climate adaptation and resiliency planning grant, designed to assist local municipalities' and tribal governments' efforts in planning for climate vulnerability and hazard mitigation with an emphasis on supporting underserved communities.

"For the seventh year in a row, SoCalGas' climate adaptation and resiliency grants will help cities with local planning efforts to prepare for and recover from climate change risks, such as extreme heat, wildfires, drought, subsidence, sea level rise, flooding and mudslides. Supporting cities in addressing environmental challenges aligns with our mission to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative infrastructure company in America," said Jawaad Malik, vice president of strategy, sustainability and chief environmental officer at SoCalGas.

The winning applications were selected from across Southern and Central California by an advisory panel of planning and sustainability experts from the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability (LARC) and the American Planning Association-California Chapter (APA-California). Recipients were chosen based on their proposal's emphasis on collaboration among various agencies, first responders and utilities; addressing vulnerabilities in disadvantaged communities; and benefits beyond resiliency, such as to public health, air quality, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and the economy. The grant program is funded by SoCalGas shareholders and does not impact natural gas bills.

"We have seen the devastating impacts that climate change and weather-related natural disasters have had on communities, from fires to drought and extreme heat. There are very real consequences for individuals and economies throughout the world. That is why we're extremely grateful to SoCalGas for supporting the City of Calipatria with this climate adaptation and resiliency grant, which will allow us to plan and prevent devastating consequences of climate change in our city," said Calipatria Mayor Sylvia R. Chavez.

Calipatria will use its grant to develop a climate vulnerability assessment, which will seek to assess and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and other climate vulnerabilities for communities in the heart of Lithium Valley.

"We are grateful for this collaboration and the positive impact it will have on our city's climate resilience. This funding not only supports our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also strengthens our resolve to create a more sustainable future for Carson. Together, we are taking significant steps towards a greener tomorrow, ensuring a vibrant and healthy community for generations to come," said Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes.

The City of Carson will use its grant to update its climate action plan, which will serve as the city's guiding tool to increase sustainability, improve energy efficiency, and meet their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals over the next 20 years.

"On behalf of the City of Santa Ana, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to SoCalGas for its generous grant," Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. "SoCalGas's commitment to supporting our community is both inspiring and transformative. This grant contribution will help us in our groundbreaking work to address air pollution and environmental justice issues in our neighborhoods."

The City of Santa Ana will use its grant to implement an air pollution monitoring and air purifier program for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

Last year, the City of Costa Mesa and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians were each awarded $50,000 for winning climate adaptation and resiliency planning grants from SoCalGas.

The planning grant program is part of the company's ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in operations and delivery of energy by 2045.

For more information about SoCalGas' environmental initiatives, visit https://www.socalgas.com/sustainability. For more information about SoCalGas' Climate Adaptation Program, visit https://www.socalgas.com/sustainability/sustainability-at-socalgas/climate-grant.