The Salt Lake City, Utah-based developer has officially commissioned the 125 MWac Pleasant Valley Solar 2 project and commenced construction on the 400 MWac Blacks Creek Energy Center, located in Ada County. The dual milestones represent a capital investment exceeding $750 million and push rPlus Energies’ total footprint of operational, under-construction, or contracted solar and storage assets in Idaho past the 1 GW threshold.
The massive capacity injection arrives as Idaho’s broader solar footprint scales up. According to the latest state data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Idaho has reached 1,301 MWdc of installed solar capacity, ranking 34th nationally and drawing more than $2 billion in total investment to date. The state currently derives roughly 9% of its electricity from solar energy, a figure poised to rise as SEIA forecasts 2,740 MW of new solar installations over the next five years, ranking Idaho 29th for growth outlook.
Both rPlus projects will supply power to regional utility Idaho Power under long-term agreements.
“As Idaho’s energy needs continue to increase, we need a balanced portfolio of energy resources,” said Lisa Grow, President and CEO of Idaho Power, noting that the capacity will help the utility meet growing regional demand.
The utility’s focus on resource expansion aligns with a broader regional push for grid reliability. While Idaho’s current energy storage capacity sits at 1,721 MWh (ranking 9th nationally), utility procurement is driving a substantial pipeline. Idaho Power has targeted short-term goals for a 300 MW storage project slated for late 2026, alongside a long-term resource planning goal of 1,685 MW of storage by 2040.
The rPlus developments are also expected to generate substantial local economic yields, driven in part by Idaho’s 3.5% solar energy tax on gross earnings. According to rPlus Energies, the developments will generate hundreds of construction jobs alongside long-term tax revenues for state and local entities.
As part of the workforce pipeline initiative for the Pleasant Valley Solar 2 facility, project partners contributed $375,000 in workforce development scholarships targeted at students attending Boise State University and the College of Western Idaho.
“Pleasant Valley Solar 2 and Blacks Creek Energy Center are critical for supporting Idaho’s continued economic growth,” said Luigi Resta, President and CEO of rPlus Energies.
Backed by institutional investors Sandbrook Capital and Gardner Group, rPlus Energies focuses on utility-scale solar, wind, battery storage, and pumped-hydro assets across the United States.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, July 30, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, July 16, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
pv magazine USA hosts its third multi-day virtual event on advancing U.S. solar and energy storage markets, covering financing, supply chains, and distributed energy’s role in grid resilience.
You have no items in your basket.
