John Lindt

Despite the withdrawal by the cannabis company Valley Pure on a deal to buy city-owned land at 19 ½ Ave. and Cedar Lane 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,” Olson said, 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,” Olson added.

 

Avenal gets $4.8 million for solar farm

The City of Avenal will be constructing a 760 kilowatt-hour solar photovoltaic generation system at the city wastewater treatment plant. 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, said City Manager Melissa Whitten. The solar farm will be built at ground level on a 5-acre parcel the city owns.

“We hope to save most of the $220,000 year we currently pay PG&E,” said Whitten. The project could be operational this time next year.

 

Assemi Group Lemoore plan

The Fresno-based Assemi Group recently purchased 156 acres of land north of Lemoore and seeks annexation to the city limits. The property is located at southeast corner of Lacey Blvd. and 18th Avenue. City manager Nate Olson says development is likely some 18 months out. The city council appears favorable.

 

Hanford hospital gets $9.8M

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.

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. It is located at 1017 Whitley Ave. 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 state 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 Sept. 1 and Feb. 28, 2020.

The large-span steel truss bridge crossing the Kings River old channel on the Hanford East alignment is to be located approximately eight miles north of the City of Hanford and four 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.

 

Large solar projects to get hearings

Kings County is processing two new, very large solar applications this fall.

The projects are part of the mega-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 Highway 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.