Overview
Utah is building large-scale solar-plus-storage hybrids and converting the Intermountain Power Project to hydrogen-capable natural gas while expanding transmission through the Energy Gateway system. PacifiCorp’s integrated resource plan calls for major transmission upgrades to unlock renewable interconnections in central and northern Utah, adding about 2 GW of interconnection capacity through 2032. The state’s power buildout is closely tied to data center demand, with Rocky Mountain Power adding 694 MW of solar capacity for Meta’s regional data centers.
Generation Projects
Natural Gas
Intermountain Power Project (IPP) is installing new natural gas units designed for 840 MW net output, hydrogen-capable at startup with a pathway from 30% hydrogen at startup to 100% hydrogen by 2045.[1]
Solar
Utah is building some of the largest solar-storage hybrid projects in the country.
- Green River Energy Center (Emery County): Construction began on a 400 MW solar facility paired with a 400 MW / 1,600 MWh battery system, one of the largest U.S. solar-storage hybrids.[3]
- rPlus/PacifiCorp PPA (Emery County): rPlus Energies signed a long-term PPA with PacifiCorp for a 400 MWac solar facility integrated with a 200 MW battery system.[4]
- Meta solar facilities: Rocky Mountain Power added three new Utah solar facilities totaling 235 MW for Meta’s regional data centers, bringing total in-state solar PPAs to 694 MW.[8]
Wind
PacifiCorp’s 2023 IRP Update includes new wind resources in its preferred portfolio, indicating that Utah load growth will rely on regional wind delivered through new and upgraded transmission.[5]
Nuclear
UAMPS and NuScale terminated the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) in November 2023, leaving no active nuclear construction tied to Utah municipal utilities.[2]
Transmission and Grid
PacifiCorp is expanding transmission capacity through the Energy Gateway system to unlock renewable interconnections.
- Energy Gateway South (Sigurd–Red Butte): A 345 kV line spanning about 170 miles from the Sigurd substation near Richfield to the Red Butte substation near Central, Utah.[7]
- Energy Gateway Utah segments: Rocky Mountain Power lists Utah segments in Gateway Central (Populus–Terminal, Mona–Oquirrh, Limber–Terminal) and Gateway South (Aeolus–Mona, Sigurd–Red Butte).[6]
- IPP Southern Transmission System: IPP Renewed includes modernization of the high-voltage Southern Transmission System that delivers power from the IPP site to western customers.[1]
- IRP transmission upgrades: PacifiCorp’s IRP Update calls for additional transmission upgrades to enable renewable interconnections in central and northern Utah, adding about 2 GW of interconnection capacity through 2032.[5]
Battery Storage
Utah is building two of the largest solar-storage hybrids in the country.
- Green River Energy Center: 400 MW / 1,600 MWh battery paired with 400 MW solar under construction in Emery County.[3]
- rPlus/PacifiCorp storage: 200 MW battery system integrated with 400 MWac solar in Emery County.[4]
Data Center Power Agreements
Rocky Mountain Power announced three new Utah solar facilities totaling 235 MW, bringing the company’s in-state solar PPAs for Meta’s regional data centers to 694 MW.[8]
Interconnection Queue
PacifiCorp manages generator interconnection requests through its Generation Interconnection department, with queue documents posted on OASIS under Generation Interconnection and TSR Queues.[9][10] PacifiCorp’s IRP Update notes the need for additional transmission upgrades in central and northern Utah to enable renewable interconnections, indicating that transmission capacity is the binding constraint for new projects.[5]
What to Watch
- PacifiCorp’s IRP transmission upgrades to unlock 2 GW of interconnection capacity in central and northern Utah through 2032.
- IPP Renewed’s hydrogen transition pathway from 30% to 100% hydrogen by 2045.
- Additional data center PPAs from Rocky Mountain Power as Meta and other tech companies expand their regional footprint.
Sources
[1] IPP Renewed, “About,” n.d., https://ipprenewed.com/about/ (accessed January 8, 2026).
[2] NuScale Power, “Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and NuScale Power Agree to Terminate the Carbon Free Power Project,” November 8, 2023, https://www.nuscalepower.com/press-releases/2023/utah-associated-municipal-power-systems-and-nuscale-power-agree-to-terminate-the-carbon-free-power-project (accessed January 8, 2026).
[3] pv magazine USA, “Construction begins on 400 MW solar and storage project in Utah,” September 23, 2024, https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/09/23/construction-begins-on-400-mw-solar-and-storage-project-in-utah/ (accessed January 8, 2026).
[4] rPlus Energies, “rPlus Energies Signs Power Purchase Agreement with PacifiCorp for 400 MW Solar with 200 MW Battery Storage in Utah,” October 25, 2022, https://www.rplusenergies.com/rplus-energies-signs-power-purchase-agreement-with-pacificorp (accessed January 8, 2026).
[5] PacifiCorp, “2023 Integrated Resource Plan Update,” April 2024, https://www.pacificorp.com/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/pacificorp/energy/integrated-resource-plan/2023_IRP_Update.pdf (accessed January 8, 2026).
[6] Rocky Mountain Power, “Transmission Projects,” n.d., https://rockymountainpower.net/transmission/transmission-projects.html (accessed January 8, 2026).
[7] PacifiCorp, “Gateway South,” n.d., https://www.pacificorp.com/transmission/transmission-projects/energy-gateway/gateway-south.html (accessed January 8, 2026).
[8] Rocky Mountain Power, “Rocky Mountain Power adds three large solar facilities in rural Utah for Facebook,” August 6, 2020, https://www.rockymountainpower.net/about/newsroom/news-releases/rmp-adds-three-large-solar-facilities-in-utah-for-facebook.html (accessed January 8, 2026).
[9] PacifiCorp, “Transmission Services,” n.d., https://www.pacificorp.com/transmission/transmission-services.html (accessed January 8, 2026).
[10] PacifiCorp (OASIS), “PacifiCorp Generation Interconnection Requests,” n.d., https://www.oasis.oati.com/woa/docs/PPW/PPWdocs/pacificorpcliaq2.htm (accessed January 8, 2026).