Energy and Water: Securing Southern California’s Industrial Future

Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Reliability Power Growth in the SoCal Wine Country

Temecula, CA –February, 17, 2026

​As Southern California continues to attract advanced manufacturing, food and beverage production, and clean-tech industries, reliable energy and water infrastructure remain foundational to long-term economic development. The SoCal Wine Country Economic Development Coalition (EDC) is highlighting how coordinated investments in renewable energy, water reliability, and utility infrastructure are supporting sustainable industrial growth in the region.

“Energy and water reliability are not abstract policy issues; they are core site-selection criteria for modern industry,” said Connie Stopher, Executive Director, SoCal Wine Country EDC. “Our role is to work closely with utilities and local agencies to ensure that when companies choose this region, we can confidently support their operational needs today and decades into the future.”

Building a Resilient Water Supply 

Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water) has secured significant funding to strengthen water reliability, quality, and emergency readiness across the Wine Country region. These efforts include more than $1 million in federal funding for a water quality treatment project, $500,000 from Riverside County for helicopter dip tanks to assist wildfire response efforts, a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant to support water conservation and emergency preparedness, and a $250,000 cybersecurity grant from Cal OES.

A key component of Rancho Water’s long-term planning is the Rancho Mid-Pauba Groundwater Banking and Water Resources Program (RaMP Water Program), which combines groundwater banking, PFAS and water quality treatment, recycled water expansion, brine line planning, Vail Dam rehabilitation, and recharge and recovery facilities. The program is designed to proactively plan around current and future water supply needs and increase water storage and supply reliability.

Rancho Water’s CropSWAP (Sustainable Water for Agricultural Production) program, launched in 2016, helps agricultural producers transition from high-water-use crops to lower-water-use alternatives such as winegrapes. The program has resulted in more than 326 acres of crop conversions and savings of more than 800 acre-feet of water annually. In 2024, the program expanded into the Regional CropSWAP Program with support from a $5 million Department of Water Resources grant to include additional agency partners in San Diego and Riverside Counties.
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“Reliable water infrastructure is essential for economic stability, public safety, and agricultural preservation,” said Jason Martin, General Manager, Rancho California Water District. “By investing in groundwater banking, water quality treatment, and conservation programs, we are working to maintain dependable water service for our communities and businesses.”

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Advancing Clean and Reliable Energy

Energy reliability is also an important component of the region’s infrastructure planning. SoCalGas has announced investments in hydrogen development and infrastructure modernization as part of its broader energy strategy. These efforts are intended to support energy system reliability and the development of lower-carbon energy resources.
“Southern California’s energy future depends on innovation, reliability, and sustainability,” said Adam Eventov, Senior Public Affairs Manager, SoCalGas. “Our investments in new technologies and energy infrastructure are designed to support economic growth while strengthening regional resilience.”

Aligning Infrastructure With Economic Growth
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The SoCal Wine Country EDC works closely with local utilities, cities, and regional partners to align infrastructure capacity with industry recruitment and long-term economic development goals. The EDC also supports funding efforts that advance utility investments to ensure residents, communities, and businesses have the resources necessary to support growth and long-term stability.
“Economic development succeeds when infrastructure planning is proactive,” Stopher added. “By coordinating across energy, water, and land-use planning, we’re supporting a region that is prepared for continued growth.”

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Key Takeaways:

• Energy and water reliability are central to business attraction and retention. For advanced manufacturing, food and beverage production, and clean-tech industries, dependable utilities are not optional--they are key site-selection criteria. The SoCal Wine Country EDC is positioning infrastructure readiness as a competitive advantage to support long-term industrial growth.
• Major investments are strengthening regional water resilience. Rancho California Water District is advancing water reliability through federal, state, and county funding for water quality treatment, wildfire response, conservation, cybersecurity, and groundwater banking. Programs like RaMP and CropSWAP are increasing storage capacity, improving water quality, and reducing agricultural water use--saving more than 800 acre-feet annually.
• Coordinated infrastructure planning is driving sustainable economic growth. Through collaboration with utilities like Rancho Water and SoCalGas, the EDC is aligning renewable energy, hydrogen development, water management, and land-use planning with long-term economic development goals--ensuring the region can support growth while enhancing resilience and sustainability.

The Southern California Wine Country EDC is a nonprofit economic-development organization serving Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore and southwestern Riverside County. For more than 30 years, the EDC has helped businesses relocate, expand or start up in one of Southern California’s fastest-growing and most strategic regions. Leveraging partnerships, incentives and a business-friendly environment, the EDC is committed to fostering sustainable growth, innovation and quality of life. SoCalWineCountryEDC.com

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