rPlus Energies announced today the groundbreaking of the Green River Energy Center, which is a 400-megawatt (MW) solar PV and 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hour battery storage project located the in Eastern Utah. This project is set to become one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects under construction in the United State. Green River Energy Center Construction project once complete will supply power to PacifiCorp under a power purchase agreement.
“This project is being constructed in rural Utah, by the rural Utahns, and for all of Utah. When rural Utah thrives, the entire state prospers,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project. “Today, we’re not just breaking ground on this mega project—we’re building a future of affordable, abundant energy in the state of Utah.”
Securing more than $1 billion in construction debt financing earlier this year, the project is expected to create roughly 500 jobs — many filled by local workers — and will provide a boost to Emery County’s economy, by enhancing tax revenue, strengthening of the public services, and lastly even offering long-term employment opportunities in the energy sector of the state of Utah.
Developers/Contractors of the Green River Energy Center Construction Project
Sundt Construction, a national contractor with a strong presence in the Mountain West, has been tasked with the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor for the project. Other developers who will be participating in the implementation of this mega project are the Elite Solar who will be supplying the solar modules and Tesla who will be providing the battery storage system for the project.
“It’s the partners on board that make this project special, that have made this monumental project possible,” said Luigi Resta, President and CEO of rPlus Energies. “Right from our equipment providers to the onsite talent, and the support provided by the local and regional community, we thankfully owe this project’s success to each of you.”
Utah State Energy Production Capacity
Utah state is indeed very fortunate to possess abundant and diverse energy resources, which include vast reserves of conventional fossil fuels as well as several areas suitable for renewable resource development. Furthermore more recently, Utah has witnessed an evolution in its general energy landscape. Crude oil and natural gas still feature prominently in Utah’s energy mix, but each year coal has a more diminished role. The state’s electricity market keeps adjusting to decarbonization pressures balanced with grid reliability and affordability. This energy evolution will continue with ongoing emphasis on renewable and carbon-neutral energy sources, innovations in the hydrogen economy, and electrification of the transportation system in the state of Utah.
The Central-west desert of Utah (Millard, Beaver, and Iron Counties) has been nicknamed “Utah’s Renewable Energy Corridor” with large-scale development of solar, wind, and geothermal resources. Major investment in the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) is foreseen to generally facilitate electricity generation from natural gas and carbon-neutral hydrogen (IPP Renewed). Moreover, research and development of enhanced geothermal resources have cemented the area’s reputation as a clean energy hub in the United States.
Project Fact Sheet
Project name: Green River Energy Center
Location: Eastern Utah
Cost: Over $1 billion
Contractors/developers: rPlus Energies, Elite Solar, and Tesla
Capacity: 400MW solar PV, 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hour battery storage project
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