Fresno
City Scorecard Rank
60
Fresno, CA
23.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Local Government Score:
0 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Fresno’s Green Plan includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 and includes several municipal-focused actions. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
Fresno’s Green Plan includes a goal for 50% of municipal electricity use to come from renewable energy resources by 2025.
Last updated: March 2020
Procurement and Construction List All
Fleet policies and composition
We could not find information on Fresno’s fleet procurement policies or fuel efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public lighting
We did not find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We could not confirm if Fresno has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.
Onsite renewable systems
Fresno has installed solar panels on municipal buildings.
Inclusive procurement
We could not verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: March 2020
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding Fresno's benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We did not find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Fresno.
Public Workforce Commuting
We did not find data on policies to reduce the commutes of city workers, such as flex schedules and teleworking.
Last update: July 2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Summary List All
The City of Fresno adopted the Fresno Green Plan in 2016.
Last updated: March 2020
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Fresno Green plan includes a goal to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city, though the Fresno Green plan calls for a 10% reduction in peak load.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Energy Data Reporting
The city does not report community-wide energy data.
This section applies only to community-wide energy data reporting. For information on data reporting due to building energy benchmarking and disclosure policies, click on the Buildings tab.
Last updated: September 2020
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Accountability to Equity
We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups.
Last updated: March 2020
Clean Distributed Energy SystemsList All
We could not verify if the city has adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: March 2020
Mitigation of Urban Heat Islands List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Program
We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Last updated: March 2020
Buildings Policies
Score: 12 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All
The City of Fresno enforces the state energy code and solar- and EV-readiness requirements. The city also complies with AB802, California’s mandatory benchmarking requirement for commercial and multifamily buildings. We could not find information on whether the city has adopted mandatory energy saving actions.
Last updated: September 2020
Building Energy Code AdoptionList All
Overview
California requires all buildings to meet statewide codes, but grants local jurisdictions the authority to adopt more stringent codes. To learn more about building energy codes in California, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Fresno requires CalGreen for commercial buildings. The code uses a commercial zEPI score of 49.1.
Residential
Fresno requires CalGreen for residential buildings. The code uses a residential zEPI score of 58.1.
Solar- and EV-ready
California state code will require solar system installation on all new residential construction beginning in 2020. California’s Green Building Requirements require residential and nonresidential building owners incorporate EV-charging infrastructure into the property.
Last updated: September 2020
Building Energy Code Enforcement and ComplianceList All
Fresno requires plan reviews, site inspections, and performance testing. We could not find information on the number of full-time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last updated: September 2020
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Fresno complies with the State of California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 802. Per AB 802, owners of commercial and multifamily buildings greater than 50,000 square feet must benchmark energy usage.
Incentives
Fresno EOC Weatherization Program installs energy conservation measures and provides energy education for limited income families.
The city offers property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Last updated: September 2020
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.
Last updated: September 2020
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 8.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric and natural gas utility for the City of Fresno. The State of California requires spending and savings targets for its IOUs through an EERS and requires local government-utility partnerships through mandate by the California PUC. The municipally-run utilities are not required to meet the state EERS targets and report through the California Energy Commission. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the California page of the State Database.
The City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities is the municipal utility that provides the City of Fresno with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: March 2020
Electric & Gas Energy Efficiency Programs and SavingsList All
In 2018, PG&E reported 1,287,988 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 1.61% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Fresno. In 2018, PG&E spent $363,338,000 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 2.67% of its retail revenue.
In 2018, PG&E reported 29.97 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 1.58% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2018, PG&E spent $294,599,628 on energy efficiency, which equates to $69.47 per residential customer. These savings and spending figures cover PG&E’s entire service jurisdiction, not just the City of Fresno.
PG&E offers electric and natural gas efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.
PG&E partners with two local governments in Fresno – the City of Fresno and Fresno Economic Development Corporation. The partnerships collectively make up the Fresno Energy Watch program. The City of Fresno focuses on energy efficiency retrofits for their local public buildings in the city. The Fresno EDC is focused on serving local public and small medium business (SMB) customers in the greater Fresno County by helping them learn about and take advantage of utility programs.
Last Updated: March 2020
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low income households. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings. The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety.
In 2018, PG&E achieved 60,217 MWh and 1.91 MMtherms in savings, while spending $73,500,00 and $51,000,000 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively, and served 85,168 electric and natural gas customers.
Multifamily Programs
PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program, Multifamily Upgrade Program, and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Upgrade Program promotes and facilitates energy-efficient retrofits of existing multifamily buildings” through technical support and incentives. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces.
In 2018, PG&E’s multifamily programs saved 5,035 MWh and 0.23 MMtherms, while spending $15,344,728 and serving 25 electric units and 10 natural gas units.
Last Updated: March 2020
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
PG&E's Building Benchmarking Portal provides aggregate whole-building energy usage data in their ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to building owners. The City of Fresno does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: March 2020
Renewable Energy Efforts of Energy UtilitiesList All
Renewable Energy Incentives
In 2018, PG&E provided $16,817,792 in incentives for the installation of 14,610 kW of new distributed solar systems, equating to $1,151/kW installed. PG&E offered multiple incentive programs in 2018, including Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH), Single Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH), New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP), Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), and California Solar Initiative Thermal (CSI-Thermal). Through the CSI-Thermal program, PG&E provided $4,968,801 in incentives for the energy savings of 223,460 therms, equating to $22.24/therm.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
The City of Fresno is considering allowing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) options for its residents. The Council has to first complete a technical study to determine the costs and benefits of a CCA.
Last Updated: May 2020
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
City-wide water efficiency and goals
The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. However, PG&E does offer rebates for high-efficiency commercial dishwashers.
Regarding water savings, the City of Fresno actively supports the challenge for all Californians to achieve a 20% per capita reduction in urban water demand by 2020, and conservation measures are in place to achieve this goal. We could not determine if the city is on track to meet this goal.
Water plant efficiency and self-generation
The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not yet self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: June 2020
Transportation
Score: 3 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
No data or the city is not pursuing.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Fresno does not yet have a codified VMT reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Fresno is not yet tracking community GHG or VMT levels
Last Updated: March 2020
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning
Design guidelines within Fresno's Tower District encourage mixed-use and compact land development.
Residential Parking Requirements
The City's parking requirements do not meet the minimum scoring threshold for City Scorecard.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosures
No data or the city is not pursuing.
Last Updated: March 2020
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Target
No codified mode share target exists in the cities most recent active transportation plan (Fresno ATP 2017), although diversifying mode share is discussed and acknowledged as an important component moving forward.
Progress Toward Mode Shift Target
No progress has been achieved, as there are no targets in place.
Complete Streets
No Policy Found
Car Sharing
At this time, the City of Fresno does not have a formal policy in place to provide dedicated on-street and off-street parking for carshare vehicles.
Bike Sharing
The city is not currently served by a bikeshare program.
Last Updated: March 2020
Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The City of Fresno and the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency that serve the City of Fresno have received $62,438,724 on average annually between 2014 and 2018. That equates to roughly $62.79 per capita between 2014 and 2018 within the Authority's service area.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Fresno Transit Connectivity Index value is 5, scoring 0.5 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: March 2020
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, Fresno does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Incentives for EV Charging Stations
No data or the city is not pursuing.
EV Infrastructure
The City has 50 charging stations available for public use, equivalent to 9.432 stations per 100,000 people.
Renewable Charging Incentives
At this time, the City of Fresno has no incentives or requirements available for the installation of private or public EV charging infrastructure powered by renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.).
Last Updated: March 2020
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
The Transit Oriented Infrastructure for In-Fill Development (TOD) program was created in the 2006 Measure C Extension Plan. The goals of the Measure C TOD allocation are to support community-based transit projects that:
- Are developed through an inclusive planning process with broad private-public partnerships and outreach;
- Improve the range of transportation choices by supporting transit facilities and improving links between facilities and activity nodes; and
- Support well-designed, high-density housing and mixed uses near transit.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Fresno does not currently provide rebates or incentives to low-income residents for efficient transportation options.
Last Updated: March 2020