An electric van that is part of the Van-Werx ride hailing program. Fresno Metro Black Chamber image

Two Central Valley residents have been recognized for their leadership in advancing the state’s clean energy goals.

On Dec. 4, the California Energy Commission held its 2025 Clean Energy Hall of Fame Awards ceremony at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Auditorium, honoring local leaders making significant contributions to help the state achieve a 100% clean energy future.

Award recipients for the 6th annual event include Judith Gomez, coordinator for Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS) in Porterville, who took home the Youth Game-Changer award.

Cassandra Little, CEO of the Metro Black Chamber of Commerce in Fresno, won the Clean Energy Champion award.

Through her work with CAPS, Gomez helped reduce energy costs and a greenhouse emissions by 80% for seven local schools, designed high-efficiency lighting strategies for 21 schools throughout the Porterville Unified School District and participated in securing a $5.8 million Department of Energy grant to support energy efficiency upgrades for Porterville Unified.

Little is recognized for making transportation more sustainable, community owned and accessible in the Central Valley.

She helped the chamber launch the Fresno area’s first Clean Shared Mobility Network, which operates a fleet of 40 electric vehicles and 200 e-bikes in under resourced neighborhoods.

Little also created programs such as Van-Werx, an on-demand and EV van service and Betting Big, a capital and mentorship initiative for minority-owned clean energy startups.

She also developed a 2-week EV Accelerator to train entrepreneurs and small business owners in clean mobility innovation and mentor new leaders in the energy justice space.