Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

First Wind Announces Another PPA with Rocky Mtn Power in a Month

File: First Wind

Renewable energy company First Wind has finalized four more 20-year power purchase agreements, or PPA’s, with Rock Mountain Power. The latest PPA announced Thursday is for power generated from the company’s planned 320 megawatt “Four Brothers” solar development in Beaver and Iron Counties. Cody Stewart is Governor Gary Herbert’s Energy Advisor. He says the agreement has been in the works for a long time.

“It’s the largest solar development in Utah to date. So it’s a significant move forward on the renewables front and the state of Utah, Governor Herbert and I think everyone that’s been involved in it, that’s aware of it is excited this is happening,” says Stewart.

He says the short term impact creates 500 construction jobs by next year with a very quick turn-around time for the power to be generated.

“And they expect just a little under $70-million of direct revenue to the county from this project over the next 20 years. So it’s a significant contribution,” says Stewart.

Credit File: First Wind
Seven Sisters wind generators in Beaver and Iron Counties

He says it’s also the first time power from First Wind will be consumed in Utah. It will generate enough electricity to supply 90,000 homes. He says the environmental impact is also minimized because First Wind taps into its infrastructure from the wind generated power systems that have been running in the area since 2009.

Bob Nelson is a graduate of the University of Utah with a BA in mass communications. He began his radio career at KUER in 1978 when it was still in Kingsbury Hall. That’s also where he met his wife, Maria Shilaos, in 1981. Bob left KUER for commercial radio where he worked for 25 years, and he is thrilled to be back at KUER. Bob and his family are part of an explorer group, fondly known as The Hordes and Masses, which has been seeking out ghost towns and little-known places in Utah for more than twenty years.
KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.