Developers present 240‑MW Huntington Creek solar + storage plan to Emery County; tax and environmental impacts discussed
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Summary
Doral Renewables outlined a proposed 240 MW solar project with a 100 MW/4‑hour battery, a ~2,200‑acre array footprint within ~3,200–3,400 acres under lease, environmental studies, and a timeline tied to PacifiCorp interconnection results; county staff and consultants discussed wildlife surveys, decommissioning bonds (HB 16) and an estimated $36 million in property taxes over 20 years.
Doral Renewables presented the Huntington Creek Steward Project to the Emery County Commission on April 7, walking commissioners and residents through the project footprint, regulatory path and anticipated local benefits.
Whitney Rubin, representing Doral Renewables, said the proposal includes 240 MW of solar paired with a 100 MW/4‑hour battery energy storage system, with an array footprint of roughly 2,200 acres within a larger lease area the company estimates at 3,200–3,400 acres. Rubin described underground and overhead collection lines, a project substation and a short generator tie to the Emery‑Spanish Fork transmission line. She said interconnection studies from PacifiCorp are expected in July but could slip to September, and that construction would likely begin six months to a year after an interconnection agreement is finalized.
The developer highlighted compliance steps under newly enacted state legislation (HB 16), effective May 6, that require wildlife consultation, a locally approved decommissioning plan and financial assurance (bond or parent company guarantee) that must be updated every five years after commercial operation.
Nathan Jones of SWCA, the project’s environmental consultant, summarized a desktop review identifying a modest chance of San Rafael cactus and other plant species in portions of the polygon and recommended field surveys to confirm presence or absence. SWCA also reviewed BLM and US Fish and Wildlife Service datasets and said migration corridor mapping did not show major ungulate corridors through the project footprint, though field work is necessary to confirm.
Legal and tax counsel presented an economic snapshot: an attorney from Holland & Hart said the project could add roughly $36 million in property tax revenue to the county over 20 years and spoke in terms of adding about $360 million in assessed value, while a Zions Bank analyst estimated about $10 million in wages during a two‑year construction period and limited permanent local job growth but broader induced spending benefits.
Residents and commissioners asked about state versus private land, impacts on adjacent landowners, continued grazing, noise and fugitive dust. The developer said the land is private (not state land) and that they are engaging local landowners and plan to use best practices for dust control, including dust‑suppression plans and site revegetation requirements under state SWIP rules.
Why it matters: the size of the project and required easements would make it one of the county’s largest renewable energy footprints. The project’s assessed value and tax implications were framed by presenters as a tool to lower per‑parcel tax rates by increasing the county’s tax base, but speakers warned about depreciation of assessed personal property over time and the need for mechanisms (for example, CRA funds) to mitigate future tax volatility.
What’s next: the presentation was informational only; the developer will continue field studies, secure interconnection results from PacifiCorp, and return to the county with permit and easement items as required by local and state processes.