News

sPower, one of BIO-WEST’s clients, recently
announced their plans for a new solar project expected to provide renewable
energy for six Utah cities.

The new solar facility, Clover Creek Solar, was announced by the Utah Municipal Power Agency earlier this week. UMPA recently entered into an agreement with sPower, an independent renewable energy power producer based in Salt Lake City, to build a new solar farm in Juab County, Utah.

“Utah is among the most energy rich states in the nation with some of the best solar and other renewable resources that compliment conventional energy resources to deliver new, clean energy solutions,” said Dr. Laura Nelson in a press release.

Nelson is Governor 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,” Nelson said. “Solar provides an excellent option for meeting growth and delivering new production for clean, robust energy system.”

sPower will be the owner and operator of the Clover Creek project. The Salt Lake City-based company operates over 1,650 MW of wind and solar power at facilities across the United States. Clover Creek Solar will be the company’s first utility-scale project developed in its home state of Utah.

As part of the permitting process for this project, sPower contracted BIO-WEST to do an environmental analysis of the proposed project area.

BIO-WEST scientists Andy Boswell, Coleen Moss, and Dustin Lofthouse conducted a Waters of the US delineation, a Phase 1 real estate site assessment, and a threatened and endangered species site review and investigation. They also managed a cultural resources survey on the subject property.

Additionally, BIO-WEST assisted sPower with the drafting, coordination and submission of a Bureau of Land Management Plan of Development and environmental assessment for a portion of the transmission line proposed to cross BLM land. 

BIO-WEST is also excited to announce that on Oct 9, the BLM finished their review of the Plan of Development and issued a Finding of No
Significant Impact, or FONSI.

Clover Creek Solar is expected to provide 80 MWac of renewable energy to six Utah
cities: Provo, Spanish Fork, Nephi, Salem, Manti and Levan.

“Developing solar power in Utah is important to sPower, because we live, work and play here – it is our home,” said Ryan Creamer, sPower CEO, in a press release.