Cool OC Zoom Social and Federal Rollbacks Recap – The Villas at Rancho San Joaquin

Dear Villas owners,

Please review below information from Cool OC

Thank you to everyone who joined our Fall Kickoff Zoom & Social!

We had a thoughtful and energizing discussion on how federal clean energy tax credits are shifting — and what that means for our communities. If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry — we’ve pulled together the highlights, key takeaways, and resources so you can catch up and stay engaged. Don’t miss the reasons to stay optimistic at the end!

Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vbPICglQR_uab0AZ4Dfdwu_uuwnUV39d/view?usp=sharing

Expiring Federal Incentives:

Federal tax credit for EVs: ends this September 30, 2025

Federal EV Charger tax credit: ends June 30, 2026

Federal home upgrades tax credit:

– Heat pump systems

– Insulation/weatherization

– Solar panel installation*

– Electrical panel upgrades

– Home energy audits

All have tax credits ending December 31, 2025.

*Patty noted that for projects like solar and other upgrades, demand is already overwhelming, making it difficult for new applicants to meet the deadline.

There are still local and state incentives we can take advantage of as federal support declines. Always check to see what incentives your local water and power companies provide, in addition to local and state agencies.

Here are a few local incentives available:

Energy Programs – Orange County Power Authority – For member cities of Irvine, Fullerton, and Buena Park, go here to see incentives for battery storage, Free EV Charger & Energy Efficiency Kits.

Southern California Edison – Check here for rebates on Pre-Owned EVs

These federal rollbacks will affect our communities with a higher cost of electricity for homes and businesses, loss of clean energy jobs, increased pollution, and grant cancellations, all of which will have negative impacts, particularly on underserved communities.

Despite federal rollbacks, states are still pushing forward with their own climate goals, investing in clean energy projects, setting their own environmental standards, and taking legal action to counter some of the federal cuts.

Spotlighted: The Revolution Wind Project

The project was halted in August by a work stop order from the administration. The project is nearly 80% complete

Was able to resume this past Monday, the judge stated national security concerns didn’t point to any factual findings.

Reasons to be Optimistic

Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2, an organization made up of business leaders and professionals who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Bob shared 3 reasons why he’s still optimistic about a clean energy future:

Simple Economics – solar and wind are still the cheapest forms of energy out there
States Step up – the states are stepping up in place of the administration, and many decisions remain in the states’ hands
Innovation- you can’t hold back innovation in any sector

Patty shared that these words from scientist and author Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson help her navigate these uncertain times: