Rancho Goleta Lakeside Community Microgrid Project

Project overview

The Clean Coalition has partnered with Rancho Goleta Lakeside Mobileers Inc. (RGL) to develop a Community Microgrid. Located on 28 acres within the City of Goleta, RGL is the only disadvantaged community (DAC) in the Goleta Load Pocket (GLP) region — a 70-mile stretch of disaster-prone, transmission-vulnerable Southern California coastline. The RGL community comprises 200 owner-occupied mobile homes, all served by a single SCE master meter and a constrained private distribution grid.

This Community Microgrid will enhance energy resilience, affordability, and sustainability for the RGL community and create a replicable model for mobile home parks and other multi-unit housing across California and beyond.

Diagram of RGL electrical infrastructure:

Project  Goals & benefits

The RGL Solar Microgrid offers:

• Solar-driven resilience using the Clean Coalition’s VOR123 approach

• Standardized design via carports and veranda-based installations

• Electrification of EV charging, HVAC, water heating, induction cooking, and electric dryers

• Net Zero Energy for the community’s future electrified load profile

• A powerful case study for statewide Master Metering policy reform

This project aims to provide a scalable, replicable model for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities to achieve clean, resilient, and affordable energy.

Community Engagement

The RGL project is grounded in inclusive stakeholder collaboration, including:

• Coordination with the RGL Board

• A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of regional experts

• Educational webinars and public outreach

• A dedicated Clean Coalition landing page for project updates and resources

Policy Impact

Currently, mobile home communities like RGL are the only residential facilities permitted for Master Metering in California. This project aims to:

• Showcase the benefits of Solar Microgrids under a Master Metering model

• Support policy innovations to allow broader adoption in multi-unit housing

• Deliver a robust case study to inform regulatory change

Funding

The Clean Coalition has submitted the RGL project for funding through:

• The California Public Utilities Commission’s Clean Equity Access (CEA) Grant Program

• The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) Equity rebate

These funds will support feasibility analysis, design standardization, and implementation planning — laying the groundwork for full project development.