WATER & ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR- CSU, FRESNO

Beginning our second day on the "Green Bus Tour", we headed south to Fresno to visit the WET Incubator at CSU, Fresno. The WET Incubator is a specialty business incubator that combines the entrepreneurial leadership and training experience of Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI) with the research and testing expertise of Fresno State's International Center for Water Technology. It is the home to five early-stage businesses specializing in water and/or energy technology. It will provide the technical review and evaluation of emerging water and clean energy technologies for the incubator. This will include technology development assistance, research, development, industry testing, certification, education and training. The facility is also powered by a 53 kw solar photovoltaic array on the roof of the facility.

The group arrives at the Water & Energy Technology Incubator at CSUF.

The group was treated to a number of presentations touching on the activities of WET. We also heard from a biofuels startup company that is tapping into the resources provided by WET.

Demonstration pump at the WET Lab.

CITY OF FRESNO SOUTHEAST GROWTH AREA

During our next stop at Fresno City Hall, the group was treated to a presentation of the proposed Fresno Southeast Growth Area (SEGA) by Keith Bergthold, Director, Planning and Development Department, City of Fresno.

The group arrives at Fresno City Hall.

In order to comply with SB 375 and curb vehicle miles traveled in the Fresno metropolitan area, city planners are proposing a new kind of growth in the SEGA, unlike anything the city has ever undertaken. The SEGA plan has an emphasis on walkable, bikable, transit oriented neighborhoods; trails, open space, and recreation; community farming and agriculture; and mixed use centers with a variety of housing choices. To sum it up, a sustainable community.

Our host Keith Bergthold, has been actively selling this new concept to the community and is optimistic about it's implementation. The group was blown away by Keith's innovative thinking and enthusiasm mixed with a bit of realism. As he stated to the group, residents are figuring out that they've either got to get on board of a new way of thinking about growth, or they're going to be eaten up by it.

  Keith Bergthold presents the Southeast Growth Area plan to bus tour participants.

After another drive south, we found ourselves at the SCE AgTAC in Tulare. The AgTAC is one of two SCE energy centers, with this one having a focus on energy efficiency in ag. The AgTAC provides a range of services for the ag industry as well as the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. These include technology exhibits and display; educational seminars and workshops; technical consultations with energy experts; tours; and energy rebate program information.

Our hosts provided a delicious lunch. Thanks SCE!

SCE AgTAC solar array, one of the many outdoor displays. These also serve as a power generation source for the facility.

Duke Ashcroft, Engineer with SCE, hosted the facility tour. We're seen here entering the "Sustainability Building", which was designed using state of the art green building technologies. It serves as a demonstration area as well as a classroom for seminars and workshops.

The last stop of our tour was at the Tulare Wastewater Treament Plant. The City has separate wastewater treatment plants that serve domestic users and industrial users. These two plants produce 500,000 cu/ft of methane which is scrubbed multiple times to produce a very high quality gas for use in 3-300 kW fuel cells. Hydrogen and oxygen are the basic fuels for fuel cells. One great appeal of fuel cells is that they generate electricity with very little pollution-much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combine to form a harmless byproduct, water. The power form these fuel cells powers the plant operations. Some of the scrubbed methane is used in a 12 cylinder internal combustion engine to produce an additional 450 kW of power for the plant. Read more details about the plant here.

Our host Lew Nelson stands with the group in front of the plants fuel cells.

Methane flare, used to burn off excess gas in a more environmentally friendly way.

Special thanks to the passengers of the Modesto to Tulare "Green Bus Tour"!

We'd also like to thanks the many hosts that opened up their facilities to us and shared their knowledge and experiences. Thanks to Ficalini Farms, Frito Lay, Pacific Southwest Containers, UC Merced, the Water & Technology Incubator, the City of Fresno, the AgTAC center, and the Tulare Wastewater Treatment Plant.

And last, but definitely not least, a big thank you to our sponsors for their support. The Great Valley Center couldn't do all of the wonderful things we do, without you! So, thanks to Citi, Pacific Gas & Electic, and Southern California Edison.

Stay tuned in for details on upcoming tours. Energy staff is working to organize a tour in the Tracy area as well in the Northern Sacramento Valley. See you on the next Green Bus Tour folks!