According to a Times-News article posted online today, Idaho Power has signed a new agreement that will replace energy produced by the North Valmy coal-fired plant in Nevada with clean solar energy.
“Jackpot Solar will help diversify the state’s energy infrastructure, bring additional economic benefits to the state and Twin Falls County, while also supporting Idaho Power’s clean energy goals,” according to Idaho Power’s news release.
“Providing 100 percent clean energy is an important goal for Idaho Power, and more and more customers are telling us it is important to them, too,” Idaho Power President and CEO Lisa Grow said. “We have a great head start, thanks to our clean hydropower plants that remain our largest source of energy.”
The engineering and construction for the project, located on 952 rural acres south of Twin Falls, will be handled by SOLV Energy. Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will own and operate the project.
The article also points to the indirect economic benefits of the solar project development, “such as increased local spending in the service and construction industries, the Jackpot Solar facility will also have a positive economic impact on the local community by providing significant tax revenues for the Filer Consolidated School District.”
Idaho is moving up the national ranks for the amount of energy produced from solar power, according to the industry’s leading trade association, SEIA. Idaho ranks 27th nationally, up from 35th last year, and nearly 600 jobs in the state are powered by the solar industry.
There are 32 solar companies in the state. Businesses moving operations to Idaho are driving some of the clean energy demand, including Meta, parent company of Facebook, which is building an $800 million data center near Kuna in Ada County. Slated to open in 2025, the data center will be entirely powered by renewable energy.