Solar energy has taken a bright spot in Idaho’s commercial construction sector with the Idaho Solar 1 project on South Cloverdale Road, according to the Idaho Statesman.
Touted as the first commercial solar facility in the state, the project would provide electricity to Idaho Power for the next two decades at the least.
Aside from the Idaho Solar 1 project, five other solar farms will reach completion in 2016. In HoganConstruction.com, it was noted that this may potentially encourage more commercial construction in Idaho and is likely to pave the way for other infrastructure projects.
Solar Power
With 174,800 solar panels across a 360-acre site in Boise, the Idaho Solar 1 project has the ability to absorb sunlight to provide 40 megawatts of electricity. For context, this level of power is enough to support around 29,000 residences.
Lewis Reynolds, Entropy Investment Management’s managing partner, said the project broke ground in December 2015 and reached completion in April 2016. Entropy Investment Management owns DEPCOM Power, which constructed the solar facility.
Although it is the pioneer solar farm in the state, the Idaho Solar 1 project is not the largest of its kind. The ongoing construction of the Grand View PV Solar Two project in Elmore County is expected to be the biggest — a facility with a capacity of 80 megawatts across a 600-acre site.
State Construction Activity
Elsewhere in Idaho, Petersen Bros. Construction has broken ground on a new mixed-use building in Twin Falls, after fully occupying the available space at the Highland Avenue East building, The Twin Falls Times-News reported.
The project will include 6,000 square feet of office space and 120,000 square feet of warehouse and shop space. Petersen Bros. owner Jeremy Peterson expects the new building to be completed by Dec. 31, 2016, with the company’s employees transferring there in early 2017.
Meanwhile, in Ketchum, the Limelight Hotel Ketchum is well on its way for an opening in December this year, after a “topping off” ceremony on July 8.
As the state embraces this innovation, it is possible that many newly constructed establishments will rely on solar power.
