rPlus Energies has secured more than $650 million in financing to advance a major solar project in Idaho, positioning the company to meet rising power demand driven by data center expansion.
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The Salt Lake City-based developer announced it has finalized debt and tax equity financing for the Blacks Creek Energy Center, a 520 MWdc (400 MWac) solar facility in Ada County. The funding, led by Santander Corporate & Investment Banking and KeyBanc Capital Markets, will support construction before converting into long-term financing once the project becomes operational.
The project will feed clean electricity into the Idaho Power grid, helping meet both regional energy demand and sustainability targets tied to Meta Platforms and its expanding data center presence in Kuna, Idaho.
With financing now secured, rPlus is preparing to move into construction, targeting commercial operations between 2027 and 2028. The company previously acquired the Blacks Creek project from Qcells in late 2025 as part of a broader 900 MW solar and storage portfolio in Ada County.
“This project represents another major milestone for rPlus as we continue to invest in large-scale, homegrown energy across the American West,” said Luigi Resta, president and CEO of rPlus Energies. “Santander and KeyBanc are strong partners, and we’re pleased to work with them to deliver a project of this scale and importance.”
The development adds to rPlus’ growing presence in Idaho, where its portfolio is approaching 1 gigawatt of solar capacity, making it one of the largest renewable developers in the region.
The project highlights the increasing link between artificial intelligence infrastructure and renewable energy deployment. Meta’s data center operations require large volumes of reliable, low-carbon electricity, driving partnerships with developers like rPlus.
The Blacks Creek facility builds on earlier solar projects supplying energy to Meta through Idaho Power, reinforcing the region’s role as a hub for clean energy tied to digital infrastructure growth.
Analysts note that despite higher interest rates, projects of this scale remain financially viable due to strong utility agreements and federal incentives.
“rPlus’ intentional approach to development and community stewardship is evident in the quality of their projects,” said Bill Chamberlin, managing director at KeyBanc Capital Markets.
Nuno Andrade, U.S. head of structured finance at Santander, added: “By delivering a holistic financing solution… Santander is positioned as an end-to-end strategic partner supporting rPlus’ ambitious growth strategy.”
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The Blacks Creek Energy Center reflects a broader national trend where data center expansion is reshaping energy infrastructure investment. As AI workloads grow, tech companies are increasingly turning to renewable energy to meet both sustainability goals and regulatory expectations.
Projects like this also deliver local economic benefits, including construction jobs, long-term land lease payments and increased tax revenues for surrounding communities.
For Idaho, traditionally not a dominant solar market, the project signals a significant shift toward utility-scale renewable energy development. Combined with parallel projects across states like Texas, the U.S. is witnessing a rapid scale-up of solar and storage capacity to support next-generation digital infrastructure.
At the same time, the integration of solar with grid systems underscores the importance of balancing reliability and sustainability, especially as energy demand from AI and cloud computing continues to accelerate.
Originally reported by Peter Mwaniki in Construction Review Online.
