SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Green River Energy Center, a combined 800-megawatt solar and battery storage project located in eastern Utah, and 11 dedicated project partners are thrilled to announce a contribution of $375,000 to support scholarships for students from Emery County or Carbon County. This investment establishes two scholarships - the Local First Scholarship and the Energy First Scholarship - in partnership with Utah State University Eastern (USUE).
The Local First Scholarship supports Emery and Carbon County students who plan to remain in the area after completing a degree or certificate from USUE. The Energy First Scholarship is tailored for students pursuing education in energy-related fields, with qualifying programs including Welding, Wildlife Ecology, Electrician Certification, Heavy Machinery Operations, and more.
“At USU, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities,” said Ken White, USU Senior Vice President of Statewide Enterprise. “The generous commitment from Green River Energy Center and its partners exemplifies this belief by directly investing in the future of Emery and Carbon County students. These scholarships will not only help individuals achieve their academic and career aspirations, but also strengthen the local workforce and support the long-term economic vitality of the region. We are deeply grateful for this partnership, which underscores the critical role of education in fostering sustainable development and community resilience.”
This impactful scholarship program is made possible thanks to rPlus Energies, Kem and Carolyn Gardner, Sundt Construction, Nextracker, EliTe Solar, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, TSJ Construction, BHI, BODEC, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), and Truist Securities.
Applications for the Spring 2025 semester will open on December 1st through scholarships.usu.edu. To qualify, students must be admitted to Utah State University Eastern. Scholarships of up to $5,000 are available, and students may reapply each year.
“Each time we start construction on a project, we create a scholarship to invest in local talent. Initially, this was just the Local First Scholarship, designed to help students stay and contribute to their communities, whatever their chosen field. But as the energy sector grows, so has the need for the Energy First Scholarship, which encourages studies in fields essential to energy development,” said Luigi Resta, President and CEO of rPlus Energies. “For places like Emery County and Carbon County, where energy production is part of the heritage, it’s a perfect match.”
After the Green River Energy Center secured over $1 billion in construction debt financing this year, the project celebrated its groundbreaking in September with project partners, community members, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The project will generate approximately 500 construction jobs — many of which will go to local workers — providing a significant economic boost to Emery County by increasing tax revenue, enhancing public services, and creating long-term energy sector employment opportunities.
The project is one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects under construction in the nation and will supply power to PacifiCorp under a power purchase agreement.
About rPlus Energies
rPlus Energies is a team of committed energy industry professionals working together to develop, own and operate large-scale renewable energy generation and electric storage projects in the United States. The company specializes in bringing projects to market through partnership with the private sector, municipalities, utilities, and industry-leading technology, service and finance providers. Its portfolio consists of a strategic mix of solar, battery, wind, and pumped storage hydro facilities. rPlus Energies is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and is backed by Sandbrook Capital and Gardner Group.
