en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Green River Energy Center project by rPlus Energies, located in Emery County, Utah, has commenced commercial operations. The facility includes 400 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation and 400 MW/1600 MWh of battery energy storage, making it the largest combined solar and energy storage project within PacifiCorp's six-state service area, with a capital investment exceeding $1 billion.
In 2024, Utah Governor Spencer Cox launched "Operation Gigawatt," aiming to double Utah's energy production over the next decade. That same year, rPlus Energies amended the power purchase agreement with PacifiCorp, increasing the battery storage capacity of the Green River Energy Center project from the initial 400 MWh to 1600 MWh, making it one of the largest solar-plus-storage facilities under construction in the United States. Originally designed as a 400 MW solar photovoltaic facility integrated with a battery energy storage system, the expansion quadrupled the storage component.
Last summer, rPlus Energies, together with RBC Community Investments and a syndicate of investors, completed over $500 million in tax equity financing commitments, leveraging the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to support the project. Later that summer, the company also secured over $1 billion in construction debt financing for the project. The Green River Energy Center will generate more than $55 million in property taxes for Utah schools and public services. During construction, the project employed hundreds of workers, with multiple local contractors handling key component construction. Project partners also committed $375,000 in scholarships to train local students for jobs in their hometowns, strengthening the long-term workforce for the local and energy-related industries.
"Operation Gigawatt is about ensuring Utah has reliable, homegrown energy to create opportunities for future generations," said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. "The Green River Energy Center represents the kind of large-scale energy investment we need to provide reliable power, support rural Utah, and help the next generation thrive across the state." On June 22, a project commissioning ceremony was held at the site, attended by Governor Cox, project partners, and community members. Luigi Resta, President and CEO of rPlus Energies, said, "This project represents years of collaboration and commitment from all partners. We all believed in this vision, and now the Green River Energy Center is delivering reliable electricity and real value to homes across the American West."
The project received the "Americas Renewable Deal of the Year" award from Project Finance International and the "Energy Company of the Year" award from the Emery County Business Chamber in 2024.
