Applications for Cohort 5 of the San Diego Regional Energy Academy Are Now Open
Application closes on July 17th, 2026 at 5 pm.
Cohort 5 will meet on September 17, September 24, October 1, and October 8, 2026.
Program Overview
The Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC) and the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative (SDRCC) joined together to develop the San Diego Regional Energy Academy. This program was developed with the support of our Foundational Partners, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and San Diego Community Power (SDCP). The Energy Academy is the product of a collaborative effort between all partners, as well as expert guidance from the program’s Advisory Committee. This program serves as a valuable resource to support and enable leaders to reach our regional climate resilience goals.
The Energy Academy was envisioned as a program for diverse community leaders from across the region, aimed at elevating their knowledge and literacy of our region’s complex energy landscape. The Energy Academy targets participants who will benefit the most from gaining this foundational knowledge and whose work will directly impact the San Diego region. It provides participants with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum and learning experience where they will:
- Explore core energy principles and their application on the ground
- Understand the San Diego region’s power and energy system
- Assess and explore the intersections between energy, climate impacts, and equity
- Gain insights on how electrification and decarbonization can help build community resilience
- Participate in field trips to engage with key learning concepts directly
The Energy Academy also supports graduates of the Academy through its Alumni network, which includes access to exclusive training and networking opportunities to ensure program graduates can continue strengthening and building their Energy IQ.
Program Structure & Core Curriculum
The Energy Academy is facilitated through a dynamic, in-person curriculum consisting of six core modules and complimentary field trips provided over four full days. Modules utilize various learning techniques and formats for comprehensive learning outcomes, including site-visit-based content. Key topics include:
- Energy units and primary energy sources
- Electricity generation, transmission, and distribution
- Evolution of the electric system (e.g, restructuring, CCA)
- Natural gas utilities and regulation
- Key regulatory agencies and electric/natural gas sector players
- Electricity procurement mechanisms and requirements
- Statewide GHG emission and clean energy goals
- Achieving goals in the energy sector (e.g., renewables, storage, EVs)
- San Diego regional and local climate targets
- Barriers to achieving targets and potential solutions
- Environmental, Climate and Energy Justice
- Energy cost burden relative to other costs (e.g., housing)
- Latest climate science related to hazards that affect electricity systems (e.g., heat waves, wildfire)
- Climate change impacts on the electricity system
- Future of infrastructure planning
- Field trips vary each cohort
Program Commitment
The Energy Academy is currently only available as an in-person program. In-person participation for all sessions is expected for enrolled Energy Academy participants. The Energy Academy is free of charge to participants, and lunch and transportation for field trips will be provided.
Recent News
Stay Connected!
If you’d like to stay up to date and be first to hear more about the San Diego Regional Energy Academy, please fill out the form below.
Support the Energy Academy
Our team is working hard to ensure that the Energy Academy is a free of charge program for our San Diego region. If you are interested in sponsoring the Energy Academy or learning more about how to support this program, please contact energyacademy@sandiego.edu.
Program Administrators
Foundational Partners
Program Sponsors
Program Partners
The San Diego Regional Energy Academy thanks the following partners for their dedicated support in helping us provide a hands-on experience for program participants. Their time and effort plays a key role in our program’s success.