Idaho just switched on a big solar farm – and a much larger one is next

Idaho has switched on a new solar farm, Pleasant Valley Solar 2, generating 125 megawatts, and construction has begun on a much bigger project nearby, the 400-megawatt Blacks Creek Energy Center in Ada County. Together the developer, rPlus Energies, has now built or contracted more than 1 gigawatt of solar and battery storage in the state, representing over $750 million in investment.

Idaho gets most of its power from hydropower dams, but solar is growing. As of June 2026, the state had 1,301 megawatts of solar installed, ranking 34th in the country, and solar now supplies about 9 percent of Idaho's electricity. Idaho Power, the state's utility, is buying power from these projects to help meet rising demand.

For homeowners, this news is mainly about the state's broader electric supply rather than anything you need to do at your own house. More solar and battery storage on the grid can mean more reliable power and, over time, help keep electricity costs in check, since these plants add generation without needing new fuel. The projects are also funding workforce scholarships at Boise State University and the College of Western Idaho to train future energy workers, and they generate tax revenue for local governments through Idaho's solar energy tax. None of this changes rebates or incentives for putting solar panels on your own roof, but it shows the state's energy mix is shifting to include more solar alongside its traditional hydropower.