Idaho Wind Farm Enters Commercial Operation
Clearway Energy Group (Clearway) announced that Cedar Creek Wind, its first project in Idaho, has reached commercial operations. The 152-MW wind farm in Bingham County will generate enough electricity to power 41,000 homes annually.
“We are excited to celebrate commercial operations at Cedar Creek Wind,” said Chris Fox, vice president of construction at Clearway. “This project represents Clearway’s first clean energy project in Idaho. We’re pleased to introduce a major infrastructure investment in the state which has provided significant construction jobs and which will strengthen Idaho’s economic and energy future through the project’s many years of operations.”
The start of operations commences Clearway’s 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with PacifiCorp, which does business as Rocky Mountain Power in southeastern Idaho, ensuring the delivery of clean energy to PacifiCorp customers and helping advance its sustainability goals. Clearway’s portfolio with PacifiCorp totals more than 840 MW. This includes 549 MW of solar and wind in Utah, 141 MW of wind in Wyoming, and now 152 MW in Idaho, representing a continuation of Clearway and PacifiCorp’s longstanding relationship.
Cedar Creek Wind represents a US$250 million investment in Idaho’s economy, creating 175 jobs during construction with more than 250,000 hours of injury-free labor. The Cedar Creek team participated in community events throughout construction, including through donations to the Firth School District and Heart 2 Hand Bingham Food Pantry.
“We are thrilled to see the completion of the Cedar Creek Wind project, originally approved in 2008, come to fruition. Although we understand the clean energy movement can be challenging to accept for some, this long-term investment will provide 3% of the gross wind energy earnings to be returned to the county and taxing districts in the project area which will benefit many county residents,” said Tiffany Olsen, director of Bingham County Planning & Development. “We welcome the economic diversity and local workforce created during construction and through the ongoing project operations.”
Wanzek Construction Inc., a MasTec Renewables company, managed the construction of the project. Clearway originally acquired Cedar Creek Wind from rPlus Energies in 2021.
