Developers of Idaho’s second large, utility-scale solar farm recently dedicated the Grand View Solar project, which includes about 340,000 solar panels over 673 acres and will produce enough electricity to power about 17,700 homes. The project was completed in September and has been undergoing routine testing before going online with Idaho Power any day now.
Phoenix-based Clenera said its 108-megawatt project southwest of Mountain Home will provide its output to Idaho Power, which recently began receiving electricity from another large solar farm, the 40-megawatt Idaho Solar One project between Boise and Kuna on South Cloverdale Road.
Clenera developed the Grand View solar farm with partners Swinerton Renewable Energy, which provided the engineering, procurement and construction work for the project.
“Through our continuing partnership with Clenera, we are pleased to help set the precedent for utility-scale projects in Idaho’s emerging solar market,” Swinerton senior VP George Hershman said.
In a related development, Clenera said it has donated a 300-panel solar array to Idaho Youth Ranch for its new 250-acre “Hands of Promise” campus near Middleton. The system, about an acre in size, will generate enough electricity to power about 25 homes, and all of the electricity will be used at the new campus, saving Idaho Youth Ranch significant amounts off its power bill.