As we near the end of Acterra's fiscal year on June 30, we're taking a moment to celebrate what we've accomplished together. Thanks to the support of our community, we reached more than 3,600 residents through electrification programs, engaged 1,385 students in climate education, and supported over 65 community events. These are just a few highlights from the past year. While we're still putting the finishing touches on our FY26 Annual Impact Report, we're inspired by how much we've been able to achieve together - and excited about what's ahead.

As we prepare for the new fiscal year, we're continuing to strengthen the foundation that makes this work possible. If you're able, a year-end gift can help us sustain our programs, rebuild financial reserves, and continue serving communities across the Bay Area.

Thank you for being part of the Acterra community and for helping create a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

On June 6, Acterra hosted the East Bay Green@Home Tour 2026, featuring 21 homes across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Thanks to our generous hosts and enthusiastic attendees, the tour was a great success, with around 300 attendees and 486 home visits throughout the day.

Visitors explored a wide range of home electrification and sustainability projects, including heat pump HVAC systems, induction stoves, solar and battery storage, insulation upgrades, and native gardens. Beyond seeing technologies in action, attendees gained practical insights about contractors, permits, costs, and lessons learned directly from homeowners.

The tour inspired many participants to take the next step in their own homes. One attendee shared, “The tour was great! I’m so ready to improve insulation in my home that I’ve already scheduled a BayREN meeting.” Another participant said the tour helped them understand “how solar and batteries are important, and how building efficiency contributes to decarbonization goals,” adding that they now plan to focus on improving insulation to make their all-electric home more comfortable and efficient.

Many attendees also appreciated the opportunity to connect with others interested in sustainability. As one guest noted, “It was helpful to hear about their experience, particular brands and models, lessons learned, and seeing the products directly.”

A special thank you to our sponsors, AVA Community Energy and Alameda Municipal Power, and to our partner, the City of Berkeley, for helping make this event possible.

Missed this tour? More opportunities are on the way! Join us for the Marin Green@Home Tour on August 29, and stay tuned for details about our upcoming Peninsula & South Bay Green@Home Tour this fall.

Over the past school year, intern Kayden Nguyen from Cristo Rey San Jose High School,  contributed to Acterra’s ongoing air quality monitoring work in East San Jose, supporting a larger project focused on expanding community access to local environmental data as part of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) project to enhance air quality monitoring in East San Jose.

As part of this experience, Kayden focused on analyzing the relationship between vehicle traffic and PM2.5 levels, exploring how air pollution changes over time and in response to daily and seasonal patterns. Through this hands-on work with real environmental data, Kayden identified trends such as higher pollution levels during winter months and lower levels during holiday periods when traffic decreases.

Reflecting on the experience, Kayden shared: “Working on this project gave me the chance to study air quality in my own community. I focused on how vehicle traffic contributes to PM2.5 levels.”

Looking back on the overall experience, Kayden added: “This experience helped me understand how environmental data connects to health and daily exposure to pollution. I appreciate the opportunity to work on and explore a topic that directly affects my local community. This experience has definitely increased my awareness about environmental issues.”

We are always happy to support and mentor students like Kayden, whose curiosity and engagement bring valuable perspective to our work and strengthen our efforts to connect data with community action.

Kayden Nguyen (left) with representatives from Acterra, Breathe California, and the Sequoia Foundation during the installation of an air quality monitor in East San Jose.

Acterra is also excited to welcome three talented interns who will be supporting our programs and outreach efforts this summer. Each brings unique skills, experience, and enthusiasm for advancing sustainability and climate solutions in our communities.

Deenie Bulyalert, Electrification Intern

Deenie is a fourth-year student at Lewis & Clark College studying Psychology and Biology. This summer, they are supporting Acterra’s Beneficial Electrification team. Deenie has spent more than five years working with nonprofits focused on sustainability, climate action, and environmental stewardship. They are passionate about helping people understand environmental issues and inspiring care for future generations.

Outside of work, Deenie enjoys exploring the outdoors and going on adventures with their dog.

Clara Petty, Communications Intern

Clara is joining Acterra’s communications team this summer, where she will support digital media projects and outreach initiatives. A rising sophomore at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Clara is passionate about community engagement and sustainable design in support of local climate action efforts. She is involved in speech and debate, music, and art, and is particularly interested in sustainable architecture, public policy, community equity, and energy systems.

Outside of school, Clara enjoys playing saxophone, painting, reading and writing poetry, and playing volleyball.

Olivia Roslansky, Food Systems Intern

Olivia is supporting Acterra’s Farm to School Project and helping develop educational materials on food forests. She recently graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Public Policy, concentrating on equitable environmental solutions, and will begin a Master of Science program in Environmental Change and Policy at the University of Oxford this fall. Olivia is passionate about sustainable and equitable food systems, as well as agricultural finance, climate adaptation, coastal resilience, and clean energy.

In her free time, she enjoys dancing, crocheting, playing soccer, rock climbing, and writing nature poetry.

If you’ve already made upgrades to make your home more sustainable - like switching to electric appliances, adding solar, improving insulation, or installing water-saving features - and would be open to joining the tour, we’d love to have you welcome your neighbors. Please sign up to share your home and your experience with the community.

The City of Menlo Park's new Electric Vehicle Rebate and Electric Bike Voucher Program has generated tremendous interest. Due to high demand, the e-bike voucher program has reached capacity and is no longer accepting new applications while current vouchers are being processed. If any vouchers remain unclaimed, a second application round may be offered.

Eligible Menlo Park residents can still apply for a $2,000 rebate toward the purchase of a new or used electric vehicle. The rebate may be combined with other available local, state, and federal incentives, pending eligibility.

Applicants must be residents of Menlo Park and meet at least one of the following criteria:

- Participation in qualifying assistance programs such as CALWorks, SNAP, PG&E CARE, or the Menlo Park utility discount program;
- Residence in a Menlo Park neighborhood with a CalEnviroScreen 4.0 score at or above 60 in areas disproportionately burdened by pollution, including Belle Haven, West Bayfront, and parts of Suburban Park;
- Age 65 years or older.

Funding is limited, and rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Curious about induction cooking but not ready to invest in a new appliance? Bay Area residents now have two easy ways to try it out through coordinated programs led by Acterra and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

Acterra’s Induction Cooktop Loan Program offers a free 14-day lending kit that includes a portable induction cooktop, compatible pan, instructions, recipes, and a carrying bag. Participants will need to pick up the kit and return it to a designated Acterra site. It’s a hands-on way to experience the benefits of induction cooking - faster heating, precise temperature control, improved indoor air quality, easy cleanup, and a safer, more energy-efficient alternative to gas and traditional electric stoves. Learn more an apply here. 

For broader regional access, PG&E’s Induction Cooktop Loaner Program allows residential and business customers to borrow a similar induction kit at no cost for up to two weeks. Kits are shipped directly to your home and must be shipped back after the loan period, making it easy to participate even if you’re outside Acterra’s direct service areas. Learn more and apply here. 

Together, these programs make it simple for more Bay Area households to explore clean, healthy, and climate-friendly cooking.

One timely example involves CalEnviroScreen, the primary mechanism the State of California uses to identify Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), determining eligibility for billions of dollars in equity-focused investments across housing, clean energy, workforce development, and public health programs. The current 5.0 draft continues to under-report under-resourced Bay Area Communities to such a degree that 17 state legislators joined forces asking for improvements. Find it here. 

You can support our efforts by signing the Brightline Defense-led petition to Governor Newsom and Cal EPA Secretary Garcia (https://www.brightlinedefense.org/news/fix-ces).

You can also join the Climate Action Circle - Acterra’s monthly giving community - and support ongoing climate action with a recurring gift starting at just $5/month.