Fresno
City Scorecard Rank
47
Fresno, CA
27.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Fresno Green plan includes a goal to reduce GHG emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
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.
Last updated: August 2023
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.
Equity Accountability Measures
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: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The City of Fresno supported the creation of the Disadvantaged Community Solar Farm.
Last updated: August 2023
Adaptive Mitigation List All
Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
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.
Resilience Hubs
We were unable to determine if the city has supported the creation of resilience hubs that incorporate clean energy resources and are sited in disadvantaged communities.
Last updated: August 2023
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 12 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of California allows its local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes more stringent than the mandatory state codes. Title 24 outlines all California building codes. Title 24, Part 6 includes the California Energy Code and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES). Title 24, Part 11 includes the California Green Building Code. The 2022 codes exceed the 2021 IECC standards and ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2018. To learn more about California’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial properties comply with the 2022 California Building Standards Code. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 41.
Residential
Residential properties comply with the 2022 California Building Standards Code. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 26.
Solar-readiness policies
Fresno adheres to the solar-ready requirements already included in the California Building Standards Code.
EV-readiness policies
Fresno adheres to the EV-ready requirements already included in the California Building Standards Code.
Low-energy use requirements
We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Electrification policies
California's 2022 Building Standards Code includes electric-ready requirements for residential buildings.
Last Updated: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Fresno requires plan reviews, site inspections, and performance testing. We were unable to determine the amount of staff effort dedicated to energy code enforcement. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last Updated: September 2023
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.
Last Updated: September 2023
Transportation
Score: 4 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The Transform Fresno Progress Report was released in 2022 and includes sustainable transportation strategies. It also includes strategies specifically benefitting disadvantaged communities.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Fresno does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Fresno does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: January 2024
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning
California's SB 9 became law in 2021 and went into effect in 2022. This allows lots in single-family zones throughout the state to be split into two lots, and allows up to two units to be built on each lot, effectively increasing the number of units permitted per lot from one to four in single-family zones. SB 9 applies to residential zones in all California cities, including Fresno.
Parking Requirements
California's AB-2097 was passed in 2022 and prohibits local governments from imposing minimum parking requirements on new residential, commercial, and industrial developments within 1/2 mile of a rail transit station or the intersection of two frequent bus routes. Therefore, certain districts in Fresno do not have minimum parking requirements.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosures
Fresno offers fee waivers and fee reductions for infill projects in the Bus Rapid Transit corridor.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The city incentivizes affordable housing near transit by offering height and density incentives for affordable housing developments near transit.
Last Updated: January 2024
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Target
The City of Fresno does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Toward Mode Shift Target
The City of Fresno does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target. .
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
We were unable to find information on programs or policies subsidizing access to efficient transportation for disadvantaged groups.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Fresno have received $21,181,015.40 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $39.07 per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. The City of Fresno’s AllTransit Performance Score is 5, scoring 1 point in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
PG&E offers a $1000 pre-owned electric vehicle rebate and an income-qualified $4000 pre-owned electric vehicle rebate.
Incentives for EV Charging Stations
Neither the City of Fresno nor the local utility provide incentives for the installation of EV charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirement
The California Green Building Code requires multifamily properties with 20 or more units and hotels with 20 or more guest rooms to install level 2 EV chargers in five percent of the total parking spaces.
EV Infrastructure
The City of Fresno has 71.5vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Fresno nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is requiring all California transit agencies to transition their bus fleets to zero-emissions buses by 2040. Therefore, Fresno County Rural Transit Agency has a goal of transitioning to zero-emissions buses.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Fresno does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portal
The City of Fresno does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 9.5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure 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. In 2021, California regulators updated state energy efficiency policies to focus on reducing carbon emissions. The state’s new rule rules value efficiency as a grid and decarbonization resource, encourage utilities to offer more programs that primarily serve communities of color and low-income residents, and encourage workforce development programs. 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: September 2023
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2021, PG&E reported 1,845,567 MWh of net incremental electric savings at the meter. In 2021, PG&E reported 42.8 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter. 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.
At this time, the City of Fresno does not have a formal partnership with PG&E in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: September 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) 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. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. 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. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.
In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 63,235 MWh and 0.05 MMtherms, while spending $81,556,000 and $80,963,860 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. PG&E served 103,169 total customers with its low-income programs in 2021.
Multifamily Programs
PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily 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 Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces.
In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 7,992 MWh and 0.13 MMtherms, while spending $20,336,729 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs. PG&E served 12052 units in 144 properties with the ESA program and 17,675 units in 2941 properties were served by other PG&E multifamily efficiency programs.
Last Updated: September 2023
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.
PG&E provides non-confidential, aggregated energy usage data to the public through its Energy Data Request Program. Energy data is publicly released on a monthly basis at the ZIP code level, with significant redaction or further aggregation as needed to comply with California energy data privacy regulations.
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: September 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2018, the State of California set an ambitious goal of relying on entirely zero-emission energy sources for its electricity by 2045. To achieve this goal, PG&E will need to reduce emissions by 3.7% annually from 2018 levels.
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.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The City of Fresno supported the creation of the Disadvantaged Community Solar Farm.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Fresno has installed solar panels on municipal buildings with a capacity of 22.2 MW.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
The city also offers a Free Home Solar Program for income qualified homeowners; some may be eligible for free roofing and/or electrical panel repair/replacement.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide 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: September 2023
Local Government Score:
1.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city of Fresno set a goal to reduce local government GHG emissions 80% by 2050, using a 1990 baseline.
Energy Reduction Goal
We could not find any information regarding a local energy reduction goal for Fresno.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city of Fresno set a goal to use 50% renewable energy to power city operations by 2025.
Last updated: November 2023
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet policies and composition
We were unable to find information on Fresno’s fleet procurement policies or fuel-efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public lighting
Fresno has a lighting ordinance requiring efficient outdoor lighting. Fresno has announced a plan called “Light Up Fresno” to convert streetlight bulbs to LED, but we were unable to confirm the percentage of streetlights that have been converted to LEDs.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if Fresno has inclusive procurement and contracting processes. Fresno’s municipal code includes that the City Council may require a Project Labor Agreement for any contract for construction projects for the city.
Last updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
Fresno follows California’s requirements to benchmark buildings above 50,000 square feet.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Fresno.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
We were unable to determine whether Fresno provides reduced-emission transportation benefits to municipal staff.
Last update: February 2024