City of Fresno
On Earth Day 2025, the City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities (DPU) flipped the switch on a landmark 27 MW-DC solar energy and battery storage portfolio. The result of a multi-year partnership between the City of Fresno and ForeFront Power, this comprehensive renewable energy portfolio powers three energy-intensive sites: the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility, and the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility. The crown jewel of this portfolio is a 19.6 MW system at the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which is the largest commercial solar and battery system in the U.S. to date.
The DPU’s 27 MW-DC of behind-the-meter solar and battery storage will collectively generate 47 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually—enough to power over 8,000 homes per year and offset more than 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO?) emissions annually. These greenhouse gas reductions translate directly into improved air quality, healthier communities, and an enhanced quality of life for Fresno residents.
By generating solar energy on-site and storing excess electricity for use during peak demand periods, the DPU facilities significantly cut their reliance on expensive grid electricity. The City is projected to save over $122 million in energy costs by 2045 as a result of the DPU portfolio. These savings not only reduce operating expenses for City services but are also passed along to ratepayers, improving long-term affordability and energy equity throughout the community.
The construction of the DPU projects also delivered a strong economic boost to the region, creating 120 local jobs through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 100. Across the full citywide energy portfolio, 192 local jobs have been created—supporting Fresno’s clean energy workforce and generating valuable career opportunities in the trades.
The DPU solar and battery storage projects are part of a larger effort by the City of Fresno and ForeFront Power to develop an over-34 MW citywide portfolio – which is on track to become the largest on-site, multi-campus municipal solar and energy storage portfolio in the United States.
The development of this solar portfolio is part of the City of Fresno’s Citywide Energy and Sustainability Program, led by the Sustainability Division. This portfolio is projected to offset 71% of the City’s total electrical production at its municipal facilities and save taxpayers over $143 million over 20 years with low, fixed electricity rates.
Through the completion of this portfolio, the City of Fresno and ForeFront Power are setting a new standard for what municipalities can achieve in renewable energy. By forging strategic partnerships and demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainability, Fresno is not only leading California’s clean energy transition but also delivering lasting economic and environmental benefits to the communities it serves.
CustomerCity of FresnoSegmentPublic SectorTypeGround + StorageCapacity27 MWYear2025LocationFresno, Calif.
Related Works
Interested in learning more?
We would love to discuss how our solutions might be a good fit for you. Contact one of our solar energy experts today:
Privacy & Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website. To view our privacy policy, click here. For opt-out and do-not-sell information, click here. Please click the accept button below.
Functional cookies Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.