In March, Clearway Energy Group announced the close of financing and start of construction on its $605 million, 320 megawatt (MW) Honeycomb portfolio, consisting of four battery energy storage systems (BESS) located in Utah’s Beaver and Iron counties. Each 80 MW project will use four-hour Tesla Megapack lithium-ion batteries and be located adjacent to the solar projects that Clearway owns and operates.
Clearway has been operating in Utah since 2008, and the new Honeycomb portfolio will bring its total Utah fleet to 869 megawatts, significantly contributing to local energy security goals. The Honeycomb portfolio, which includes the Enterprise Solar, Escalante, Granite Mountain E, and Iron Springs installations, will collectively store up to 1,280 MWh of dispatchable power, and the project has a 20-year toll agreement with Berkshire Hathaway Energy-owned PacifiCorp, providing the utility with reliable power for dispatching.
On the project, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) shared that, “Utah has long been a leader in energy innovation, and the Honeycomb BESS portfolio is another step forward in delivering clean, reliable and dispatchable power to our communities. By expanding battery storage capacity right here in our state, Clearway Energy Group is driving solutions that strengthen both our economy and our environment.”
Bringing economic investment into the state, Clearway has received the backing of the portfolio from Bank of America, CoBank ACB, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., National Australia Bank Limited, and the New York branches of DNB Bank ASA and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale.
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Photo Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
The positive economic impacts continue as Clearway has struck a partnership with Rosendin Electric, the biggest employee-owned electrical contractor in the industry, adding up to 50 jobs to the local workforce. Of those, about 15% of total worked hours will be fulfilled by apprentices, supporting regional workforce development.
Once operational in 2026, the Honeycomb project will further contribute to the local economy by providing $60 million in property and sales taxes over the project’s lifetime, supporting local public services like schools and hospitals.
The Honeycomb project demonstrates how the energy transition creates economic opportunities while enhancing grid stability. By pairing battery storage with existing solar installations, Clearway is maximizing the value of renewable energy resources and providing reliable power even when the sun isn’t shining.
It continues a long journey for Clearway; the company already has 400 projects in its national operating fleet with 11.8 GW of gross operating capacity, featuring collaborations with 900 landowners and representing $92 million in local community investment.
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