Fresno County Considers Large Fuel Cell Power Purchase Agreement

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors placed a Master Fuel Cell Power Purchase Agreement and two System Order Agreements with Bloom Development, Inc. on its November 18, 2025 regular meeting agenda for public hearing and consideration. The agreements, as described in board materials, would authorize installation, operation and maintenance of solid oxide fuel cell systems at two county facilities, the Hall of Records and the Plaza Building. The Hall of Records system is estimated at about 2,470 kilowatts, and the Plaza Building system is estimated at about 455 kilowatts.

County staff described the purpose of the proposed arrangements as securing behind the meter baseload power that emits fewer greenhouse gases than conventional generation, lowering utility costs for county operations, and improving resilience during power outages. A formal public notice was published in the Business Journal earlier in November outlining the hearing schedule and the means for public comment. The Nov. 18 Legistar meeting record lists the item on the final agenda and draft minutes were posted following the meeting. The agenda entry invited public comment and listed Berkeley Hayes in General Services as the staff contact for materials.

If approved, the PPA would represent a significant policy shift toward on site distributed generation at two major county buildings. The move could affect the county budget and long term utility cost profile by changing how energy is procured and paid for over the life of the agreement. It would also bear on Fresno County emergency readiness by potentially providing more resilient power for government functions during grid interruptions.

The proposal raises questions for supervisors and the public about contract terms, performance guarantees, maintenance responsibilities, and projected savings over time. Because the board materials posted to Legistar show the item on the Nov. 18 agenda and minutes were posted in draft form, residents and stakeholders seeking final action or detailed contract terms should consult the board s final minutes or contact county staff for follow up.

Given the potential impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, operational resilience, and public finances, the proposal is likely to draw continued attention from civic groups, taxpayers, and local emergency planners as the county moves toward a decision and subsequent implementation if approved.