-August 19,2019-
Lemoore still hopes to land ‘Valley Pure’
Despite the withdrawal by the cannabis company Valley Pure on a deal to to buy city-owned land at 19 and 1/2 and Cedar in Lemoore, City Manger Nathan Olson says he is still working with the company to establish a facility in town.
”The neighbors did not want it” says Olson but if a project were built elsewhere in town, the “city could see revenue of $10 to 15 million” if they open a dispensary and manufacturing center. “This was just a bump in the road” expects Olson. In fact Woodlake- based Valley Pure is on the agenda for the next meeting to lease the former Lemoore train depot building and parking lot.
Avenal gets $4.8 mil for solar farm at WWTP
The City of Avenal will be constructing a 760 kilowatt-hour solar photovoltaic generation system at the city WWTP. The $4.8 million project will provide power and reduce the cost of wastewater treatment.Funds for the project are through the State of California through Prop 1 says City Manager Melissa Whitten. The solar farm will be built at ground level on a 5 acre parcel the city owns.”We hope the save most of the $220,000 year we currently pay PG&E” says Whitten. The project could be operational this time next year.
Assemi Group Lemoore plan
Jeff Roberts with the Assemi Group, based in Fresno recently purchased 156 acres of land north of Lemoore and seeks annexation to the city limits.Th property is located at southeast corner of Lacey Blvd. and 18th Avenue. City manager Nate Olson says development is likely some 18 months out. Council appears favorable.
Hanford hospital gets $9.8 million for Valley Children’s wing
Valley Children’s Hospital has received a grant of $9.8 million for improvements at Hanford Adventist Health Center. The state funds will pay to reimburse the cost of patient care equipment, information technology devices, and renovating and equipping of a fluoroscopy room, a new multi-fusion digital radiography room, and an oncology intravenous room.The staff report says in 2018, the hospital increased its neurosurgeons from two to four, based on growing demand, which allowed the hospital to treat an additional 300 cases. Funds are from Children’s Hospital Bond Act of 2018 – Prop. 4.
Lake Bottom Brewery opening in Corcoran
Corcoran will house the new “Lake Bottom Brewery” where they will be brewing and selling beer, whiskey, and vodka statewide.It is located at 1017 Whitley.Corcoran, California. It also includes a fine dining restaurant. Corcoran will also get a new hotel to accommodate long-term stays to be built to accommodate transit guests and Corcoran Prison personnel.
Kings River HSR bridge construction to start
California High Speed Rail hopes to start construction of the long awaited Kings River bridge soon.Construction activities in the Kings River may occur only during the annual in-water work window between September 1 and February 28 . The large-span steel truss bridge crossing the Kings River old channel on the Hanford East alignment is to be located approximately 8 miles north of the City of Hanford and 4 miles east of the town of Laton connecting Kings County to Fresno County. The crossing will pass a maximum height above ground of 40 feet.
Two large solar projects to get hearings
Kings County is processing 2 new, very large solar applications this fall.The projects are part of the meg-size Westlands Solar Park development on Westlands Water District land. The 150 megawatt 1,040-acre Chestnut Solar Project site is located to the northwest of State Route 41, south of Laurel Avenue, west of 22nd Avenue.
The second project is the 300 megawatt, 1,895-acre Solar Blue Project – generally located to the southeast of Avenal Cutoff Road, south of Laurel Avenue, west of 22nd Avenue.
Both will get hearings this fall in front of the planning commission.