City of Fresno
At a Glance
Industry
Government/Public Administration
Project Types
Clean and Renewable Energy, Commercial Energy Efficiency, Data Analysis, Engagement and Behavior Change
Year
2018
Location
Fresno, CA
Summary
Megan Kelly provided education, funding resource options and partnerships that will help the City of Fresno adopt clean energy practices and offer improved quality of life through climate action.
Goals
Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, the City of Fresno is known for its agricultural tradition and is the economic hub of the region. The city is also known for having some of the worst air quality in the country, high energy costs due to the extreme climate, and an aging building stock. Power the Tower, a collaborative effort led by City Council President Esmeralda Soria, aims to address these challenges by transforming the City’s iconic Tower District into an efficient, clean energy hub. EDF Climate Corps fellow Meghan Kelly was enlisted to develop strategies to scale energy efficiency, renewable energy, and implement the use of electric vehicles in that district.
Solutions
Kelly worked with Power the Tower project partners to forge partnerships between small business owners and local energy efficiency experts. She arranged community meetings so they could strategically address their energy efficiency goals with local contractors. She also organized an energy fair that showcased other relevant resources. This enabled community members to discover ways they could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the Valley.
In order to increase clean energy technology accessibility in the district Kelly identified local utility incentive programs and current funding opportunities for community solar pilot projects. She subsequently worked with City of Fresno’s sustainability office to create a summary of the research and the community solar siting recommendations needed for their funding proposal.
Potential Impact
Kelly’s outreach efforts have resulted in three businesses signing on to a managed energy program that will lead to guaranteed energy savings in the future. In addition, her work with a community thrift store has identified efficiency savings strategies that will make a rooftop solar installation financially feasible in the future. The community solar installation will help to provide equitable access to clean energy technology and provide environmental and cost savings to both businesses and residents in the Tower District while boosting the local economy.