PG&E Plans New Lemoore Service Complex
PG&E plans to build a new 12,600sf Service Center in Lemoore consolidating both the existing Lemoore facility and the Coalinga center. The plan was approved this week at the Lemoore Planning Commission.The new 11.6 acre complex would also feature a new 6000sf fleet maintenance building.”We will start with 24 employees and have room to expand to 70″ says spokesperson Paul Moreno. The Service Center is not open to the public but houses maintenance and service employees as well as clerical staff, stores material and supplies and vehicles. The new complex will be at the southwest corner of Enterprise Dr and Commerce Way in the Lemoore Industrial Park. Moreno says the current PG&E center is boxed in and has little room to expand.PG&E owns this property on 19th Ave but no reuse has been determined.The utility is buying the land for the new center.
Central Valley Meat Expansion Told
One of the county’s largest employers – Central Valley Meat Company will be expanding its facilities in Hanford with construction of a new 62,700sf processing facility,called a deboning building by the county, as well as 7700sf of new office space. The county values the new processing plant at $5.8 million. The Hanford meat packer employs 550. Company President Brian Coelho says “we hope to be in our new facilities by the first quarter of 2017.” He says the new plant will be good “both for business and our employees by increasing efficiency” in the meat processing line. The 50 year-old company’s last remodel came in 2012.
Hanford Mall Going Solar
Hanford Mall will soon install $3.7 million worth of solar panel arrays on its roof later this year, providing enough power to supply a significant portion of their power needs says mall manager Joanne Doerter.”It will really help in the summer months.” The system is 1.5 megawatts and is said to be the biggest rooftop system in the county.Construction of the new system that involves a new roof for the center as well, will start in September.The mall is also installing all new LED lighting around the property in a bid to both save money and boost the quality of the lighting at the shopping center.
Water Woes Hurt Fresno Crop Values
Less westside water hurt Fresno County’s crop value in 2015, down from $7 billion in 2014 to $6.6 billion – some 6.5%. The lack of surface water was reflected in the value of field crops last year – down 42%. Cotton decreased in total value over 47 million dollars – down 35 percent from last year as acres decreased by over 7,000 acres and the price received for Pima lint decreased by over 22 percent. Harvested acres of dry beans decreased by over 70 percent resulting in a $1,930,000 decrease in overall value. Alfalfa hay was down over 21 million dollars with decreases in both the acres harvested as well as the price received. Besides field crops there was a huge drop in milk receipts in 2015 with the value dropping 31.3%. Walnuts also took a big fall based on the decline in nut prices falling from over $40 million in 2014 to $23.4 million. Almonds remain the county’s top crop.
Tachi Tribe Acquiring 10 Acres
The Tachi Yokut Indian tribe will acquire about 10 acres in trust from private hands according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The land is located in the middle of the Rancheria adjacent the casino property. No use has been determined for the land according to the BIA. Putting the land in trust gives the tribe jurisdiction says spokesperson Kimberly Yearyean. The land had been owned by a Rancheria resident as well as the Catholic Church. Putting the land into trust gives the tribe the right to decide just how to use it.
CNG Fueling Station Expanding
Lemoore’s CNG fueling station is using a $1 million grant from CalTrans to double fuel storage capacity. The station,open to the public, has seen a 22% increase in business since the 19th Ave overpass opened up says Public Works Director Nathan Olson. Added storage will allow more vehicles to fuel up at the same time, he says.The station is used by the city vehicles, local school district buses as well Leprino transport trucks – all seeking affordable ways to cut air pollution. Fuel is around $2 a gallon.