Two Utah ski resorts will be powered by a Tooele solar farm this year

Two Utah ski resorts will now be almost entirely powered by a solar farm that opened in Tooele County on Monday.

The facility, known as the Elektron Solar Project, is the result of a collaboration between Salt Lake City, Park City and Summit County — along with Utah Valley University, Deer Valley and Vail Resorts. The farm has agreements with Pacificorp through Rocky Mountain Power to serve Utah customers across Salt Lake, Utah and Summit Counties.

“This is the largest renewable energy initiative Salt Lake City has ever been a part of,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said during a Monday news conference at the facility. “This 80-megawatt solar farm will support Salt Lake City in achieving net-100% renewable electricity by 2030 — an ambitious goal, but one of our most important priorities as a city.”

The solar farm, located in Tooele County’s Skull Valley about 60 miles west of Salt Lake City, is expected to generate enough clean energy to power nearly 20,000 homes each year, according to a news release.

It will also bring area ski resorts closer to their renewable energy goals. About 80% of Deer Valley resort will now be powered by the Elektron project, and Park City Mountain will now be 100% solar-powered, resort officials said.

“Rocky Mountain Power is pleased to continue its long partnership with customers and communities in Utah to take part in our renewable energy programs including our existing renewable tariff options,” Pacificorp vice president Craig Eller said in a statement. “This project represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts and we look forward to working with customers to develop additional projects and programs.”

The facility’s solar energy will also charge up Park City buses, streetlights and other operations, Mayor Nann Worel said.

“Few projects bring this many partner communities together at the table, but we know collaboration and joining forces have the power to activate tremendous positive change,” Mendenhall added.

“I can’t think of many initiatives that combine the efforts of three different local bodies, ski resorts, and higher education,” she said. “Elektron is as collaborative as it is ambitious, and Salt Lake City is so proud to be a partner with you all.”