‘Project Pumpkin’
Someday in the foreseeable future, solar-generated electricity could be flowing at the speed of light from the highlands between Helper and Consumers Road into the power grid. Right now, however, the process of building a proposed 100-megawatt solar farm is marching forward at a step-by-step pace.
The latest of many steps on a long road happened last Thursday, when Helper City signed off on a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Consumers Renewables, LLC, expressing interest in possibly buying power from the project.
Tami Ursenbach, the county’s Economic Development Director, brought the memorandum to the council. She explained that she has been working with Mayor Ed Chavez, state agencies and county officials on the proposal, dubbed “Project Pumpkin,” for well over a year. She noted that the company has already been in touch with private land owners for long-term leases and is also interested in some School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration property.
No tax incentive asked
Consumers Renewables has not asked for any tax incentives from the county, she added. The company will also have to build its own substation and upgrade Rocky Mountain Power’s Martin substation to link the solar farm to the transmission network, an investment that could exceed $3 million.
Ursenbach said in an interview later that David Spatafore, a business consultant and lobbyist, had arranged the original contact between the developer and the county.
“I would say it’s far beyond exploratory at this point,” Spatafore said Wednesday. “They’ve spent thousands, maybe tens of thousands of dollars on it so far.” The prep work has included property leasing, environmental study and discussions with PacifiCorp on technical matters.
He added that the construction and continued operation would mean jobs and tax base for the county. It would also diversify the county’s energy sources.
If the project grows to its full 100 megawatt potential, it would be on the same scale as the recently completed Red Hills Renewable Energy Park near Parowan in Iron County. Like Red Hills, it would be an expanse of photovoltaic panels.
According to information from the Solar Energy Industries Association, Utah already ranks sixth in the nation for cumulative solar capacity installed as of 2016. Solar generation accounts for about 3.5 percent of the state’s electrical energy. It involves 108 companies employing about 4,400 workers statewide in various aspects of installation, manufacture and associated work.