Central Valley Leaders Honored for Advancing Clean Energy and Equity

On December 5, 2025 the California Energy Commission inducted two Central Valley advocates into its 2025 Clean Energy Hall of Fame, shining a light on local efforts to couple energy efficiency with social equity. Judith Gomez, coordinator for Climate Action Pathways for Schools in Porterville, received the Youth Game Changer award for initiatives that lowered energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions across multiple school districts and helped secure federal grants to implement projects. Cassandra Little, chief executive officer of the Metro Black Chamber of Commerce in Fresno, received the Clean Energy Champion award for leadership in advancing clean energy goals and community programs across the Valley.

The recognitions matter to Fresno County because they translate into tangible benefits for students, families, workers and small businesses. Energy efficiency projects in schools can reduce utility expenditures, freeing district budgets to support classroom services, mental health supports and other student needs. Reductions in greenhouse gases and local pollution also have public health implications, potentially easing respiratory burdens that disproportionately affect low income communities in the San Joaquin Valley.

Gomez’s work in securing federal funds demonstrates how targeted technical assistance and grant navigation can convert policy priorities into implemented upgrades, such as lighting, HVAC improvements and efficiency retrofits at school sites. Little’s leadership with the Metro Black Chamber advances community programs that link clean energy goals with workforce development and small business support, widening access to new economic opportunities as the region transitions its energy systems.

These awards underscore the role of local leadership in leveraging state and federal resources to achieve multiple public goals at once. For policymakers and funders, the examples in Porterville and Fresno provide models for scaling investments that address climate, health and economic equity simultaneously. As Fresno County seeks to improve air quality and reduce costs for public institutions and households, the recognition of these two leaders points to practical pathways for expanding clean energy benefits into the communities that need them most.