Fresno EOC unveils $16 million sustainability project

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The Fresno Economic Opportunity Commission broke ground, and unveiled a special vehicle-to-grid energy project in the Fresno on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to supply additional electricity to the grid during peak hours according to CEO for the Fresno EOC, Emilia Reyes.

“We’re building a solar forum,” Reyes said. “We’re having two canopies, building 58 charging stations, and transitioning into about 50 shuttle buses.”

The 3-acre energy project being built will serve a number of purposes including powering the EOC food service operations and creating opportunities for the community.

“This project is going to bring job creation to our community,” Reyes said. “And not only create jobs, but create a unique skill set for our workforce that helps energy efficient projects like this.”

According to Reyes the idea for the project came about after evaluating the cost of providing certain needs to the community.

“During the pandemic, our transit and food service departments started running at a deficit because they’re running 24 hours a day to meet the basic needs of our community,” Reyes said. “So we were averaging around 2 to 300,000 of a deficit.”

Reyes says the project will also help combat the issue of cost.

“They’re going to allow us to sell energy back into the grid, and put it back into the community,” Reyes said.

The EOC says they are hopeful that the project will provide not just jobs and sustainability, but will provide an opportunity for individuals to make it out of poverty.

“It’s the opportunity for our local workforce to really learn and embrace the skill set. and the minute they get the skill set is priceless,” Reyes said.

The project will take about two years to complete, Fresno EOC says 80% of workers building the project will be local.

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