The City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities (DPU) announced the completion of solar energy and smart battery storage projects at three sites: the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility, and the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility.
The three DPU projects will generate 27 MW-DC and are expected to save over $122 million in ratepayer dollars by 2045. The 19.6-MW system at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility is the largest commercial solar and battery system in the U.S. to date.
The City of Fresno DPU developed its behind-the-meter solar and storage portfolio in partnership with ForeFront Power, a developer of solar energy and battery storage assets.
Each DPU site features rows of ground-mounted solar modules fitted with single-axis tracker technology, enabling the modules to follow the sun’s movement across the sky to capture the maximum amount of abundant Central Valley sunshine. The DPU portfolio has a combined output of 47 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually.
“I am so proud of this extraordinary achievement that is putting Fresno on the map and honoring our commitment to building a sustainable Fresno,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer in a statement. “Powering these citywide projects and DPU with renewable energy is one facet of the City’s comprehensive plan to lower our energy costs, secure critical infrastructure, and increase our environmental sustainability. By energizing this massive renewable energy portfolio to support our public utilities, Fresno is showing the rest of the country that clean power is a valuable tool in serving our communities.”
DPU’s energy intensive facilities can now draw upon their smart battery reserves to avoid paying for grid electricity at peak times. This not only reduces local energy costs but eases the burden on California’s electrical grid. The new solar and storage portfolio will help DPU avoid over 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually.
The DPU solar and storage portfolio was developed at no upfront cost to the City and without using bond funds.
Under the terms of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the City, ForeFront Power owns and maintains the solar and storage portfolio it developed for DPU. For the next 20 years, ForeFront Power will charge DPU a fixed, below-market rate for electricity, and DPU will achieve budget certainty by avoiding utility rate increases. ForeFront Power will continue to operate and maintain the DPU solar and storage portfolio for the duration of the PPA at no cost to DPU.
