The Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN) is looking for participants for their I-REN Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program was launched in 2023 through a partnership with CivicSpark. This partnership allows public agencies within the I-REN area to engage a Fellow at no cost. Since 2023, there have been 26 projects at 12 agencies that have made positive movement through the Public Sector Cash for Kilowatts program where an I-REN Energy Fellow was a key contributor. Those projects alone account for 44% of the funds that have been allocated to all Cash for Kilowatts programs so far and more than 35% of the energy savings.
The I-REN Energy Fellows are given information and resources for these programs to share with their host sites, and provide added capacity to those agencies to successfully manage these projects. I-REN is looking to increase the program to 27 fellows at 27 agencies. Site hosts simply have to provide the Fellow with the necessary working equipment (computer, desk, phone, etc.) and a site supervisor who is willing to support their growth and understanding of the agency. All of the other costs and requirements are handled through I-REN.
Opportunities exist to have a Fellow placed by September 2025 in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. This opportunity comes at no cost to the local jurisdictions as the salaries and all costs associated with the fellows are fully covered by CivicSpark and I-REN. This allows local jurisdictions to help nurture the next generation of talent for work in the energy sector within the Inland Empire as well as to benefit the agency by moving forward on energy efficiency projects and initiatives.
Request Forms for a CivicSpark Fellow are open now and will continue through May 15th.
If you are able to host a Fellow and contribute to this workforce development initiative, please complete the Fellow Host Site Request Form at https://iren.gov/163/Energy-Fellowship. Questions about this unique program should be directed to Jennifer Aguilar, SBCOG’s Program Manager, at jaguilar@gosbcta.com.
I-REN is made up of the San Bernardino Council of Governments, Western Riverside Council of Governments and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. These councils of governments have come together to bring much needed energy efficiency resources, education and funding to the Inland Region. I-REN collaborates with local leaders to provide the maximum benefit equitably, across all communities in the area.