Salt Lake City-based renewable energy producer sPower has entered into an agreement with the Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA) to provide power to the agency from a new solar installation in Juab County. UMPA is an energy co-op established in 1980 that provides power to Levan, Manti, Nephi, Provo, Salem and Spanish Fork. A representative of each city — either the mayor or a city council member — sits on the agency’s board.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}
The new solar project, to be constructed in Juab County, will be an 80-megawatt project that represents a capital expenditure of approximately $80 million into the county. Dubbed Clover Creek Solar, it will be located on approximately 560 acres on the west side of Mona Lake in Juab County.
Michelle Kaufusi, UMPA board member and mayor of Provo, said the Clover Creek project will help the agency attain its goal of more renewable energy in its power mix. “Since becoming mayor, we have been pushing for adding more renewable sources to Provo’s electricity mix,” Kaufusi said. “For some time, we have watched the growth of rooftop solar in our community and now we will be adding this large solar project to the mix. Provo has been very active in reducing its carbon footprint based on the efforts of Provo’s Sustainability Committee and our energy efficiency programs. We are grateful for the employees at Provo Power in providing reliable service and keeping our lights on.”
Before becoming Utah’s 3rd District representative in Congress, John Curtis was mayor of Provo and was instrumental in promoting a sustainable and renewable energy path for UMPA. “This solar project is wonderful news for Provo and UMPA member cities and will offer a dependable and sustainable energy source for residents and businesses in my district,” Curtis said. “I want to continue the dialogue of a diverse national energy strategy, which includes renewables like solar, while improving our environment and air quality for a sustainable future. Clover Creek Solar is a great example of how to protect the environment and provide clean energy to our local cities, while also providing jobs and a positive economic impact to rural Utah.”
During the four to six months of construction, Clover Creek Solar will employ approximately 300 construction workers, representing a significant capital expenditure in rural Juab County.
SPower operates over 1,650 megawatts of wind and solar power at facilities across the United States. Although the company is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Clover Creek Solar will be the company’s first utility-scale project developed in Utah. Utah has seen nearly 800 megawatts of solar power installations built in the past five years.
“We are excited to be a long-term neighbor in Juab County and look forward to creating supportive relationships with the county, school district and other local businesses,” said sPower CEO Ryan Creamer. “Developing solar power in Utah is important to sPower, because we live, work and play here. It is our home. Working cooperatively towards a common goal with UMPA, Rocky Mountain Power and numerous other teams has been critical in bringing this agreement together. I am proud of this milestone and the hard work that has been demonstrated to date.”
“I have served on the UMPA board for over 12 years and am delighted to be involved in bringing this large solar project into our supply mix,” said Spanish Fork Mayor Steven Leifson. “For the past several years, we have been working on replacing a coal-fired contract that soon will expire. We are pleased to be able to partner with sPower, a Utah-based company, and secure a long-term contract for clean renewable energy at a low cost which will serve our communities well into the future.”
“Utah is among the most energy-rich states in the nation with some of the best solar and other renewable resources that complement conventional energy resources to deliver new, clean energy solutions,” said Laura Nelson, Gov. Gary Herbert’s energy advisor and executive director of his Office of Energy Development. “As Utah continues to grow, we recognize the value of a diverse, clean energy portfolio to deliver on our economic, energy and environmental goals. Solar provides an excellent option for meeting growth and delivering new production for a clean, robust energy system.”{/mprestriction}
