The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), in partnership with the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), recognized South Bay cities for their efforts in pursuing energy-efficiency initiatives and sustainability-related tasks over the span of a year. The cities were honored at a luncheon at the Nakaoka Community Center in Gardena.

From left: Event keynote speaker Robert Fortunato, president of ForStrategy Consulting and owner/builder of the award-winning Green Idea House in Hermosa Beach; Jacki Bacharach, executive director, SBCCOG; Michael Owh, director of the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department; and Rodney Tanaka, mayor pro tem, City of Gardena, and SBCCOG board chair.

To participate, cities were required to be enrolled in the SoCalREN—a program administered by Los Angeles County to provide energy-saving services to residents, businesses and public agencies served by Southern California Edison and/or Southern California Gas Company. Progress was tracked through a point system.

While all cities received recognition for their efforts, seven cities took home gold-level awards this year: Carson, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach, Rolling Hills Estates and Torrance.

  • STEPS THAT EARNED GOLD
    Carson – Installed more than 150 electric vehicle charging ports at 13 city sites; joined the Clean Power Alliance, a community choice aggregator that allows local government to procure cleaner power for its community; and replaced gas water heaters with more energy-efficient heat pump water heaters.
  • El Segundo – Retrofitted and replaced city hall heating, cooling and air conditioning units (HVAC); operated an environmental committee which advises the city council on sustainable actions; and replaced three pool heaters.
  • Gardena – Purchased renewable gas for transportation; made HVAC and lighting upgrades at its community center; and made LED light bulb replacements at Rowley Park
  • Hawthorne – Planted 80 trees; installed LED sports field lighting at Jim Thorpe Park; and upgraded police department lighting to LEDs.
  • Manhattan Beach – Worked to obtain certification as a Green Business through the California Green Business Network; promoted sustainability online; and hosted a sustainability forum for residents.
  • Rolling Hills Estates – Implemented the Solar App+, an automated residential solar permitting system; hosted an Earth Day celebration and facilitated an environmental advisory committee to guide the city council on sustainable activities.
  • Torrance – Maintained a community garden; conducted a coastal clean-up day; and promoted water conservation.

The cities of Carson, Gardena, Rolling Hills Estates and Torrance earned points toward their gold status by receiving 2024 recognition by the Institute of Local Government’s (ILG) Beacon Award Program, which recognizes cities for their reductions in energy use or greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Carson earned the highest achievement in the Beacon program, a Platinum Vanguard Award. The SBCCOG assisted these cities with gathering and documenting data such as greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating meetings with the ILG to achieve these distinctions.

In addition, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lomita, Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills achieved silver-level awards, and Lawndale, Palos Verdes Estates and Redondo Beach earned bronze-level recognition. •

To learn more about the SBCCOG’s South Bay Energy and Climate Recognition Program, visit bit.ly/energyandclimateawards