Tower Tea, started by Binh Nguyen in 2017, is the first Fresno restaurant to receive a grant under the Energy Efficiency Grant Program. The $11,304 award will help cover the $15,072 cost of purchasing a new freezer. Fresno Chamber photo

Restaurants in Fresno struggling with high energy bills may find relief through a grant from the city and PG&E.

The Energy Efficiency Grant Program offers locally owned restaurants a 75% matching grant of up to $15,000 for energy-related improvements. For example, if a project costs $12,000, the grant will cover $9,000.

Eligible uses include energy audits and energy-related enhancements such as kitchen equipment upgrades, insulation improvements, retrofits, HVAC, and lighting.

Tower Tea is the first Fresno restaurant to receive a grant. The $11,304 award will help cover the $15,072 cost of purchasing a new freezer, owner Binh Nguyen said.

“I filled the form out, and I forgot about it,” he said. “I didn’t think that I would get the grant. But one day, I got the email from the city of Fresno staff, so we followed through with it.”

When Nguyen opened the business in 2017, some of the equipment was secondhand. “It takes a lot of energy. All the new equipment now is energy-efficient, so the program really helped us.”

He hopes the upgraded appliance will help lower the restaurant’s PG&E costs. Comparing bills from 2023 to 2024, Nguyen found Tower Tea’s energy expenses had increased by about 22%.

To qualify for the grant, restaurants must be brick-and-mortar businesses located in Fresno, locally owned, and not part of a national chain or franchise. They must also have a valid business tax certificate and have operated at their current location for at least six months. Mobile food trucks are not eligible.

To apply, fill out an interest form on the city’s website. Interest forms will be accepted until funding is exhausted.