From wind farms to solar installations and geothermal plants, there are a variety of renewable energy projects currently supplying energy, or in the works in Utah.  This page highlights some of the current and upcoming renewable energy projects in Utah. 

Wind

The Spanish Fork Wind Farm: In 2008, Utah’s first commercial wind power development finally came to life in Spanish Fork, Utah, generating power and profits for the local economy. The project provides 18.9 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity and is capable of providing power to approximately 6,000 homes.
In addition to new jobs, the project provides lease payments to landowners and increased property tax revenues to Spanish Fork City, Utah County, Central Utah Water Conservatory District and the Nebo School District.
Developer:Wasatch Wind
Location: Spanish Fork, UT
Spanish Fork Wind Farm Fact Sheet

The Milford Wind Corridor:  This wind project will be the largest renewable energy facility in Utah, producing approximately 203 megawatts of electricity. The project, which is now operational, is comprised of:

• 97 wind turbine generators
• A 90-mile transmission line connecting the wind farm to the Intermountain Power Agency in Delta, Utah
• 13 meteorological towers
• A 34.5-kV power underground collection system linking each turbine to the next and to the Facility substation
• A Facility collector substation
• An interconnection facility (i.e., switching station) at the connection between the Facility transmission line and the IPP substation
• A Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system

Developer: First Wind
Location: Milford, UT

 Credit: Douglas Barnes / First Wind & KSL 5 News.

Solar

Westminster College: is the first college in Utah to meet part of its electricity needs with on-site solar power. An eight kilowatt photovoltaic system installed on the Dolores Doré Eccles Health, Wellness and Athletic Center, totaling forty-two solar panels on the center’s roof can produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of almost three typical Utah homes.
Developer / Installer: Gardner Alternative Energy
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Solar & Energy Efficiency

Stratford Apartments: In 2007, the LaPorte Group, a Salt Lake City-based property management and construction firm, transformed the historic Stratford Hotel (ravaged in a fire) into a 46-unit apartment building dedicated to low-income residents designed to keep the cost of living down for the residents. The apartments feature rooftop photovoltaic solar panels (1 kilowatt per apartment), thick insulation, high efficiency Energy Star appliances and energy-efficient windows.
The LaPorte Group took advantage of a combination of state and federal tax credits and incentives make the renovations cost effective, including tax credits for low income housing, renewable energy and solar credits, along with Rocky Mountain Power rebates for energy efficient thermostats, furnaces, windows and Energy Star appliances.
Developer: LaPorte Group
Location: Salt Lake City

Geothermal

The Shoshone Renaissance: On October 2, 2008, the NWB EDC broke ground on the first phase of a 96 MW utility-scale geothermal power plant in Box Elder County, Utah. The project, aptly named Shoshone Renaissance, is slated to generate close to $100 million a year for the Shoshone Tribe once all three phases are complete.
Leasing the land from local farmers, the tribe will tap into the earth's geothermal energy. Shoshone Renaissance is being built in three phases of 32 MW each with Phase I commercial operation date scheduled for May 2010; Phase II in 2011; and Phase III reaching operation by 2012. The tribe negotiated a 30-year power purchase agreement with Riverside, California, for all three phases. The project will provide enough power to supply 30% of Riverside’s base load electricity needs, or approximately 67,200 homes.
Developer: Shoshone Energy
Location: Box Elder County, UT

The Blundell Geothermal Plant: This plant was the first geothermal unit agreement approved by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. The first phase of the project, Blundell Unit 1 came on line in 1984 and continues to produce energy today (23 net MGW to be precise). The plant has grown in recent years bringing on line Blundell Unit 2 which produces an average of 10MGW of electricity. In May 2007 PacifiCorp began investigating development of the next phase of the plant, Unit 3. The proposed plant would be 33 net MGW. The project is still in the research phase testing the well and project parameters. Check back for more updates soon!
Developer: PacifiCorp
Location: Approximatley 15 miles north-east of Milford, UT