Fresno unveils largest municipal solar and battery project in the US

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The City of Fresno celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday with the completion of two major solar energy and battery storage projects.

The “Flip the Switch” ceremony marked the energization of the 19.6 MW system at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which is now the largest commercial and municipal solar and battery system in the United States.

“These new solar and storage assets are putting Fresno on the map and reaffirming our commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “We’re proud to stabilize our energy bills and save taxpayers money. By energizing this massive renewable energy portfolio to support the City and DPU, Fresno is showing the rest of the country that clean power is a valuable tool in serving our community.”

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) projects, with a combined capacity of 27 MW-DC, are expected to save over $122 million in ratepayer dollars by 2045.

Once all projects are completed, Fresno will host the largest multi-campus solar energy and battery storage portfolio in the U.S., developing over 34 MW of solar and battery storage across eight sites.

These sites include other high-impact locations like the Fresno Animal Center, Southeast Police Station, Fire Station 18, Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FYI), and FAX (Fresno Area Express).

Combined, the full portfolio is projected to save the City more than $154 million over the next 20 years.

The solar portfolio was constructed by local labor union members from IBEW Local 100, creating 192 local jobs.

The system was financed and constructed with no upfront cost to the City by ForeFront Power and includes a Power Purchase Agreement that locks in low fixed electricity rates for the next 20 years.