The Utah Red Hills Renewable Park (URHRP) is Utah's first utility-scale solar plant and will more than double the state's current production of solar energy. The plant was commissioned on schedule and constructed in less than a year. It will generate around 210 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, equivalent to the power supplied to around 18,500 homes annually. This will be fed into the grid under a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement with PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power, according to the utility's obligation under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).
“We want to thank Scatec Solar because this experience has helped Rocky Mountain Power learn what works to help other solar projects that will be starting up soon here in Utah” said Paul Clements, Rocky Mountain Power Director of Commercial Services. “This project is part of Rocky Mountain Power's commitment to be good guardians of our environment and wise stewards who work to keep electricity prices at some of the lowest rates in the nation.”
Raymond Carlsen, CEO of Scatec Solar ASA added that the commissioning of the Utah plant is a significant landmark for Scatec Solar, demonstrating the company’s ability to deploy solar power quickly.
Utah is one of the top seven states in the US with the greatest potential solar capacity, due to its sunny days and cool temperatures. In 2008, the state enacted the Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative, setting a renewable energy goal of 20 percent by 2025 and requiring utilities to pursue renewable energy whenever it is cost-effective to do so. The Red Hills project represents the first occasion on which Utah has been able to build a solar plant greater than 80 MW (ac) without an aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standard in place.
Scatec Solar is publicly recognized for its role in pioneering utility-scale solar in Utah. Utah Clean Energy recently named Scatec Solar its 2015 Clean Energy MVP for the company's contributions to advancing clean energy solutions in Utah and the West. Specifically, the company was honored for its role in enabling Utah's first utility-scale solar plant and for helping lead the way to enable nearly a gigawatt of renewable energy projects in Utah. The team is currently developing a second 80 MW (ac) photovoltaic solar plant in Iron County, Utah-the Three Peaks Power Plant.
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