Planning commission recommends PacifiCorp 178 MW solar and battery project to county commissioners

PacifiCorp representatives presented a proposed 178-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility paired with a battery-energy-storage system and asked the Emery County Planning Commission to recommend the conditional-use permit to the county commissioners.

Spencer Martin, the consultant who prepared the CUP application, summarized the proposal: "The project is proposing a 178 megawatt capacity solar photovoltaic power generation and battery energy storage system project," spanning roughly 1,170 acres of footprint on mostly company-owned land a few miles south of Castle Dale along State Route 10, with a gen-tie of about 2.9 miles to connect to the grid. Project representatives said construction could start in 2027 with completion in 2028.

Commissioners discussed permitting levels for large solar projects; planning staff warned commissioners that the county could move future large projects to a higher-level (level 3) permit process, which would trigger additional review steps. After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend approval under current level-2 rules and the body voted unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to the county commissioners. Chair Gary Errington said the county commissioners will have the final say and could elevate the permit to level 3 if they choose.