The Daily Dig
rPlus Energies has commissioned its 125-megawatt Pleasant Valley Solar 2 project and broken ground on the 400-megawatt Blacks Creek Energy Center in Ada County, Idaho. The two projects mark the latest step in the Salt Lake City-based developer's expansion across the state. Combined with projects already operating, under construction, or under contract, rPlus Energies has now developed more than 1 gigawatt of solar and storage capacity in Idaho.
The two projects carry a combined investment of more than $750 million. They are expected to create hundreds of construction jobs, along with permanent positions once operational. Idaho's 3.5% solar energy tax on gross earnings means the projects will also generate long-term revenue for the state and local taxing entities, while supporting local businesses.
Idaho Power President and CEO Lisa Grow called the projects important additions to the state's energy infrastructure. She pointed to the need for a balanced portfolio of resources as demand grows. rPlus Energies President and CEO Luigi Resta framed the two projects as the next chapter in the company's long-term commitment to Idaho, crediting the partnerships that made the work possible.
Project partners also provided $375,000 in workforce development scholarships to students at Boise State University and the College of Western Idaho, tied to Pleasant Valley Solar 2. The scholarships are aimed at helping prepare Idaho's next generation of skilled workers.
Snapshot:
Project 1:
Project Name: Pleasant Valley Solar 2
Developer: rPlus Energies
Status: Commissioned
Capacity: 125 MWac
Project 2:
Project Name: Blacks Creek Energy Center
Developer: rPlus Energies
Status: Construction started
Capacity: 400 MWac
Location: Ada County, Idaho
Combined Details:
Combined Investment: More than $750 million
Utility Partner: Idaho Power
Workforce Impact: Hundreds of construction jobs; permanent jobs on site once completed
State Tax Impact: Idaho's 3.5% solar energy tax on gross earnings, generating long-term revenue for the state and local taxing entities
Workforce Development: $375,000 in scholarships to Boise State University and College of Western Idaho students, tied to Pleasant Valley Solar 2
Cumulative Company Footprint in Idaho: More than 1 GW of solar and storage developed, including operating, under construction, and under contract projects
Announcement Date: July 21, 2026
TheJobWalk Thoughts
Passing 1 GW in a single state is a track record, not a milestone press release. For subs and suppliers in the region, rPlus is emerging as a repeat developer worth building a standing relationship with, rather than a one-time bidder to chase project by project.
Two projects moving through commissioning and groundbreaking at the same time signals rPlus is running an active, overlapping development pipeline in Idaho rather than spacing projects out. For contractors and suppliers already working with rPlus, that overlap is worth watching closely for near-term bid opportunities.
Funding workforce scholarships alongside active construction shows rPlus treating labor supply as part of its development strategy, not a separate initiative. Contractors and trade schools in the region have a clear signal that rPlus is investing in the labor pool it will need for future work in the state.
