rPlus Energies today announced the start of commercial operations for Green River Energy Center, a 400-megawatt (MW) solar and 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hour battery energy storage project located in Emery County, Utah.
The project is the largest solar and storage facility within PacifiCorp’s six-state service territory. It involved capital investment of more than one billion dollars, rPlus Energies previously noted.
In 2024, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced Operation Gigawatt, an initiative aimed at doubling Utah’s energy production over the next 10 years.
In 2024, rPlus Energies said it amended a PPA with PacifiCorp to quadruple the battery storage capacity at the Green River Energy Center project that was under development at the time. The project was originally designed as a 400 MW solar PV facility integrated with a battery storage system. This expansion increased the project’s storage capacity from 400 MWh to 1,600 MWh, making it one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects under development in the U.S.
Last summer, rPlus Energies closed on a tax equity financing commitment exceeding $500 million with RBC Community Investments and a syndicate of investors to support Green River Energy Center, utilizing the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Later that summer, the company announced it had closed over $1 billion in construction debt financing for the project.
“Operation Gigawatt is about ensuring Utah has the reliable, homegrown energy needed to power opportunity for generations,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “Green River Energy Center represents the kind of large-scale energy investment we need to deliver reliable energy, support rural Utah, and help power the next generation of prosperity across our state.”
Green River Energy Center will generate more than $55 million in property taxes for schools and public services. During construction, the project employed hundreds of workers, including several local contractors for key components. Project partners committed $375,000 in scholarships for local students who plan to build their careers at home while strengthening the region’s long-term workforce in local and energy-related industries.
The successful commissioning of the project was celebrated during an on-site ceremony held Monday, June 22, attended by Utah Governor Spencer Cox, project partners, and community members.
“This project represents years of collaboration and commitment from all of the project partners,” said Luigi Resta, rPlus Energies President & CEO. “Together, we believed in the vision, and today Green River Energy Center is delivering reliable power and real value to families across the American West.”
The project has received both national and local recognition, including Project Finance International’s “Renewables Deal of the Year – Americas” and the Emery County Business Chamber’s 2024 “Energy Company of the Year” award.
