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Council weighs Fremont solar plus battery project and step-up option in UAMPS purchase plan

6438863 · September 26, 2025

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Summary

Parowan power officials briefed the council on Sept. 25 about a planned 99 MW solar project with a 49.5 MW battery system that UAMPS members would jointly buy; Parowan’s current share would be 500 kW with an optional step-up to 1 MW.

Parowan power staff briefed the City Council on Sept. 25 about a proposed utility-scale solar and battery project (the Fremont project) to join the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) portfolio.

Why it matters: The project would add solar generation and the city’s first battery storage asset to UAMPS’s resources. Parowan’s present share is 500 kilowatts; staff recommended keeping that subscription and noted the council has the option under a step-up provision to increase to up to 1 megawatt if other members drop out. Council and power‑department representatives framed the purchase as diversification of the city’s generation mix.

Key details: The Fremont project as described by Jeremy Franklin, Parowan power director, is a 99-megawatt solar plant paired with roughly 49.5 megawatts of battery storage (a four‑hour duration system). Developers named in the briefing included Longroad Energy. The power purchase agreement (PPA) under negotiation would be 25 years, with a targeted commercial operation date of Dec. 31, 2027. Franklin reported a solar-only price of about $35.45 per megawatt-hour; including the battery the equivalent price range was described as roughly $69–$74/MWh depending on dispatch assumptions.

Board recommendation and next steps: The Parowan PowerBoard voted to recommend the project and to forward a resolution to council for formal consideration in two weeks. The resolution will include the step-up option language allowing Parowan to increase its allocation if capacity becomes available. Council members attending UAMPS and PowerBoard meetings said the project fits an overall diversification strategy as municipal loads grow.

What the council said: Council members thanked power staff for the briefing and asked about project partners and timing; staff noted several UAMPS members are participants and reiterated that transmission, interconnection and permitting remain complex hurdles for projects of this size. Council did not take a formal vote at this meeting; staff will return with a resolution for action.