Bechtel has been chosen by Rio Tinto to design and construct the Copperton Phase 2 Solar project, which will support operations at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott open-pit copper mine in Utah.
Solar panels at the first solar project outside the Utah copper mine. Credit: Rio Tinto
“We are pleased to build on our longstanding partnership with Rio Tinto by expanding into clean energy,” said Scott Austin, Bechtel’s General Manager of Renewables & Clean Power. “This project demonstrates climate commitments in action, and we look forward to working together on this innovative renewable power solution.”
When completed in late 2025, the Copperton Phase 2 Solar project will span 210 acres and generate 25 MW of power from bifacial solar modules. At peak, 100 local construction jobs are expected to be created on the project.
“Expanding our solar farm is the latest step in our journey to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Nate Foster, Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Managing Director. “Together with other measures we’ve taken, such as closing a coal-fired power plant, deploying battery electric vehicles underground, and our recent transition to renewable diesel, we have reduced our emissions by millions of tons over the past few years. We’re demonstrating every day that sustainable practices and resource production can go hand-in-hand to benefit our company as well as our community.”
The new solar plant will be located next to Kennecott’s existing 5-MW solar plant. Together, the two solar plants will reduce Kennecott’s Scope 2 emissions by approximately 6%, or 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent every year.
News item from Bechtel
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