EDF Reaches Financial Close on 394 MW Utah Solar 1 Project, Construction Set to Begin
EDF power solutions reached financial close on the 394 MW Utah Solar 1 project on September 18, 2026, backed by a 30-year PPA with SCPPA and LADWP.
Photo by Deane Bayas on Pexels
EDF power solutions North America reached financial close on the Utah Solar 1 project on September 18, 2026, clearing the way for full construction of the 394 MWdc (300 MWac) solar plant in Millard County, Utah. The Utah Solar 1 financial close was reported by PV Tech and REGlobal, with power delivery expected to begin in mid-2027.
The project is backed by a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), which EDF signed earlier in 2026, covering power that will serve customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). EDF power solutions North America is a renewables subsidiary of French utility EDF.
Financing structure and expected output
Financing for Utah Solar 1 came through credit facilities from five banks: Crédit Agricole CIB, MUFG Bank, National Bank of Canada, Societe Generale and Standard Chartered Bank. MUFG Bank is serving as administrative agent, Crédit Agricole CIB is the initial coordinating lead arranger and sole buyer of the project’s production tax credits under a tax credit bridge facility, and the remaining three banks are acting as coordinating lead arrangers and initial lenders.
Once operating, the plant is expected to generate approximately 766,000 MWh of electricity annually, enough to supply a large share of a mid-sized utility’s residential customer base. Amy Lloyd, CFO of EDF power solutions North America, said “reaching financial close on Utah Solar 1 reflects strong market confidence in this asset and marks a major milestone for our team,” adding that the company “appreciates the commitment of SCPPA, LADWP and our financial partners as we advance into construction.”
| Project detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Installed capacity | 394 MWdc / 300 MWac |
| Expected annual generation | ~766,000 MWh |
| PPA term | 30 years (SCPPA) |
| Peak construction jobs | ~400 workers |
| Projected county tax revenue (operating life) | More than $40 million |
| Projected Utah Trust Lands lease revenue (operating life) | $27 million |
Source: EDF power solutions North America financial close announcement, September 18, 2026, as reported by PV Tech and Offshore Source.
Part of a broader Utah and Western US solar buildout
Utah has more than 5.1 GW of installed solar PV capacity, with the state adding over 1 GW in 2025, most of it from utility-scale projects, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) cited by PV Tech. SEIA forecasts 4 GW of new installed solar PV in Utah over the next five years, which would rank the state 18th-fastest growing in the country for that period.
Utah Solar 1 is not EDF’s only recent large PPA in the region. In August 2026, EDF power solutions North America signed two 25-year PPAs with Nevada utility NV Energy for the Winston Energy project in Lyon County, Nevada, which combines 400 MW of solar with a 400 MW/1,600 MWh battery storage system and is expected to begin commercial operations in October 2029. Winss Solutions has reported on other Western US clean-power projects tied to growing electricity demand, including how Google and Cypress Creek broke ground on the Steel River Energy Center, a 2.5 GW Arkansas solar and storage project, and how US clean power capacity passed 370 GW as solar and storage led Q1 2026.
Background
EDF power solutions North America is the US renewables development arm of Electricite de France (EDF), the French state-controlled utility. The subsidiary develops, finances and operates solar, wind and battery storage projects across the United States, and has expanded its Western US pipeline through 2026 with projects including Utah Solar 1 and the Winston Energy solar-plus-storage project in Nevada. The Southern California Public Power Authority, a joint powers authority representing California municipal utilities including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, contracts for power from out-of-state renewable projects like Utah Solar 1 to help member utilities meet state clean-energy procurement targets. The financial close clears Utah Solar 1 to move from planning into full construction, with the Millard County site expected to begin delivering power to LADWP customers in mid-2027.
Sources: PV Tech; REGlobal; Offshore Source (Business Wire)
Featured image: photo by Deane Bayas on Pexels (free Pexels license).
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I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.
