Idaho just turned on a massive new solar farm. Meta has first dibs
rPlus Energies has commissioned the 125-megawatt Pleasant Valley 2 solar farm in eastern Ada County, Idaho. This new solar plant will help power Meta's $800 million data center in Kuna. The project comes online as Idaho Power forecasts significant growth in energy demand over the next two decades, with Meta's energy needs being met by this and two other solar facilities.
Salt Lake-based rPlus Energies officially commissioned the 125-megawatt Pleasant Valley 2 solar farm in eastern Ada County, Idaho, on Tuesday. The power generated by this new facility, along with two other solar generators, is earmarked to meet the energy demands of Meta's nearly 1-million-square-foot, $800 million data center currently under construction in Kuna.
This development is crucial for Idaho's energy infrastructure, as Idaho Power anticipates an 8% annual growth in energy demand over the next five years, a rate quadruple that of a decade ago and five times faster than the state's population growth. Jared Hansen, Idaho Power's resource planning leader, and Eric Hackett, Resource Development Director, emphasized the critical need for such projects to serve customers reliably and affordably.
Under an approved stand-alone deal with Idaho Power, Meta will purchase all electricity from these three plants and contribute to the systemwide transmission costs. The combined 725 megawatts from Pleasant Valley 1 (200 MW), Pleasant Valley 2 (125 MW), and the upcoming Blacks Creek (400 MW) are expected to exceed Meta's energy requirements, aligning with the company's commitment to match its data center's electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy. rPlus President Luigi Resta noted that Pleasant Valley 2 represents a $175 million investment, with Blacks Creek adding another $650 million, contributing significantly to Idaho's energy landscape.