Utah’s largest solar and storage project has begun commercial operations, as rPlus Energies brings the Green River Energy Center online in Emery County, marking a major milestone in the state’s clean energy expansion.
The facility includes 400MW of solar generation and 400MW/1,600MWh of battery energy storage, and is described by the company as the largest solar and storage project in PacifiCorp’s six-state service territory.
Utah accelerates efforts to expand electricity supply
The project comes as Utah accelerates efforts to expand electricity supply under Operation Gigawatt, a state-backed initiative launched by Governor Spencer Cox in 2024 to double the state’s energy production over the next decade. The commissioning adds a major new source of renewable generation at a time when utilities across the Western United States are facing rising electricity demand driven by population growth, electrification and industrial expansion.
Governor Spencer Cox said the project reflects the scale of investment needed to deliver reliable power, support rural Utah and strengthen long-term economic growth across the state. U.S. Senator John Curtis described it as an example of the “all-of-the-above” approach required to meet rising energy demand while maintaining affordability and reliability.
rPlus Energies said the project will generate more than $55 million in property taxes for schools and public services. During construction, the development employed hundreds of workers and engaged local contractors across multiple phases of the build, contributing to economic activity in Emery County and surrounding communities.
The company also highlighted community investment commitments tied to the project, including $375,000 in scholarships for local students pursuing careers in the region and a $45,000 donation to the Ferron Fire Department to support emergency response services and local infrastructure.
rPlus Energies president and chief executive Luigi Resta said the project reflects years of collaboration among project partners and now delivers long-term value through reliable power generation for communities across the American West.
Green River Energy Center
The Green River Energy Center has also received industry recognition, including Project Finance International’s Renewables Deal of the Year – Americas award and the Emery County Business Chamber’s 2024 Energy Company of the Year award, underscoring both its financial scale and local impact.
The project strengthens rPlus Energies’ position in the U.S. renewable energy market. Headquartered in Salt Lake City and backed by Sandbrook Capital and Gardner Group, the also company develops, owns and operates large-scale solar, storage, wind and pumped-storage hydro projects across the United States.
The commissioning of Green River Energy Center reflects a broader acceleration in the buildout of U.S. solar and battery storage infrastructure, as utilities and developers move projects from development and financing into commercial operation to meet rising electricity demand.
Additionally, the commissioning reflects the accelerating U.S. clean energy buildout, as large-scale solar and battery storage projects increasingly move from financing and construction into commercial operation to meet rising electricity demand across regional power markets. Recent examples include Matrix Renewables’ $1.3 billion financing for solar and storage portfolio spanning California, Idaho and Texas, alongside other utility-scale developments progressing through construction and into operation across the Western United States.
Together, these developments illustrate how the sector is evolving across the full lifecycle—from financing and construction through to grid-connected operation—as the United States expands its renewable energy capacity.
Factsheet: rPlus Energies begins commercial operations at Utah’s largest solar-storage project in PacifiCorp territory
Developer: rPlus Energies.
Project: Green River Energy Center.
Location: Emery County, Utah.
Capacity: 400MW solar and 400MW/1,600MWh battery storage.
Claimed significance: Largest solar and storage facility in PacifiCorp’s six-state service territory.
State initiative: Operation Gigawatt, launched in 2024 to double Utah’s energy production over 10 years.
Economic impact: More than $55 million in property taxes for schools and public services.
Construction impact: Hundreds of workers employed, including local contractors.
Community support: $375,000 in scholarships and $45,000 donation to Ferron Fire Department.
Recognition: Project Finance International’s Renewables Deal of the Year – Americas; Emery County Business Chamber 2024 Energy Company of the Year.
Company base: Salt Lake City, Utah.
Backers: Sandbrook Capital and Gardner Group.
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