Tooele solar plant providing clean energy to Park City in Salt Lake City

According to metrics provided by the EPA, the Elektron Solar project is expected to generate enough clean energy to power about 19,700 homes annually.

The plant has 20- and 25-year power purchase agreements through Rocky Mountain Power to provide renewable energy to Park City, Summit County, Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort, Salt Lake City and Utah Valley University.

Elektron Solar began commercial operations earlier this month. Park City sustainability manager Luke Cartin said the 80-megawatt facility is affordable for the city because of its large size.

“When you buy renewable energy projects, the bigger they are, the cheaper they are,” Cartin said on KPCW’s Local News Hour on Thursday. “It’s kind of Costco’s energy methodology.”

Cartin said the project has been years in the making and has remained on track throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and the international trade war over solar panels. He said Park City is not overly dependent on power provided by Elektron Solar; rather, it provides more ways to use clean energy.

“When you think about where our energy comes from, we are actually connected to a six-state grid,” he said. “It may be from a wind project in Wyoming. It may come from a hydroelectric facility in Washington. It’s a mix.”

Park City has set a goal for the entire community to run on 100% renewable energy by 2030.