The Valley Chronicle - Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN) Receives 2026 Eureka! Award for Regional Innovation

[INLAND EMPIRE, CA] – [March 19, 2026] – The Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN) has been awarded a 2026 Eureka! Award for its innovative contributions in local sustainability, resilience, equity, and collaboration.

The Eureka! Award, presented by the California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG), honors creative leadership and forward-thinking solutions that address complex regional challenges in the state. I-REN was recognized for its achievements in delivering effective energy efficiency, workforce development, and resilience programs throughout the Inland Empire, an area historically underserved in previous statewide energy initiatives.

“We’re proud that I-REN’s work is being recognized not only for what it delivers today, but for how it can inspire other regions,” said Casey Dailey. “Our work at I-REN demonstrates what’s possible when regional agencies work together to address local challenges with equity and intention.”

Since its launch, I-REN has supported local governments by developing more than 45 resilience roadmaps and completing energy audits of 101 facilities across 37 agencies. I-REN also provides ongoing technical assistance to help agencies secure federal funding and supported 12 agencies in obtaining $1.8 million through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. Additional programs, including Cash for Kilowatts, have funded projects such as municipal energy efficiency upgrades in the City of Calimesa and district-wide LED lighting retrofits at Colton Joint Unified School District. Beyond infrastructure improvements, I-REN continues to advance long-term workforce development and placed more than 50 paid energy fellows within local agencies, launched a $3 million partnership with the Riverside and San Bernardino County Workforce Development Boards, and trained over 670 building professionals through no-cost, multilingual Title 24 energy code programs.

I-REN is a partnership of three Southern California Councils of Governments: the San Bernardino Council of Governments (SBCOG), Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). Together, these agencies leverage utility customer funds administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to deliver locally tailored solutions that strengthen public infrastructure, reduce energy costs, and expand equitable access to clean energy careers.

For more information about the Inland Regional Energy Network and its programs, visit iren.gov.