This new solar farm will help Utah Valley University meet 92% of its power needs

TOOELE COUNTY, Utah ( ABC4 ) — Students from Utah Valley University traveled from Utah County to Tooele County for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new solar farm that will provide power to the university — as well as several other businesses and homes in Utah.

The students attended the ceremony at Rocky Mountain Power’s new Elektron solar farm . According to the university, the solar farm will be able to “provide 92% of UVU’s power needs through renewable energy.”

The university said it was working to reduce its carbon footprint and fight air pollution — and the solar farm is helping it achieve that goal. The university is also aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050.

The university first announced its intent to be a customer of the solar farm in 2021 and the solar farm began operations at the end of May 2024.

“I appreciated seeing firsthand how UVU is investing in a greener future, promoting innovation, and preparing us to be leaders in sustainability,” UVU student Diego Martinez Cardenas said.

Martinez Cardenas was one of seven UVU students at the ceremony and was accompanied by fellow students Ivy Allred, Diana Molina, Gabriela Nava, Kaleb Rodriguez, and Emme Uwase. The UVU group also featured the dean of the College of Science, Dr. Daniel Horns, as well as Sarah Bateman, who is the university’s program manager of sustainability outreach.

“I love UVU’s commitment to future generations, and this new solar farm is an outstanding example of how actions speak louder than words,” Rodriguez said.

According to a press release, the solar farm is the largest solar installation in the Beehive State, and it will be able to provide energy to thousands of businesses and homes alike.

“The 80-megawatt solar farm sits on 550 acres of land west of the Great Salt Lake, is managed by the Utah Trust Lands Administration, and is a former Superfund site,” the release said.

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