Grant PUD Approves 20-Year Deal for 120-Megawatt Quincy Solar Project

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District has unanimously approved a 20-year power purchase agreement with Invenergy for the Quincy Solar Project, a 120-megawatt solar development set to begin supplying clean energy to the local grid by late 2027.

Located near Moses Lake in the Rocky Ford area of Grant County—east of Highway 17 and northwest of the Grant County International Airport—the Quincy Solar Project is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 25,000 Washington homes annually.

Invenergy, the largest privately held developer and operator of clean energy solutions in the U.S., will build and operate the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with commercial operations expected by November 2027.

“As our county’s energy needs grow, our PPA with Invenergy’s Quincy Solar is another significant resource to meet local power demand,” said John Mertlich, Grant PUD CEO and General Manager. “We look forward to working with Invenergy to provide affordable renewable energy to the grid and our customers.”

The agreement is a key step toward Grant PUD’s goal of securing 300 megawatts of solar energy by 2027, as outlined in its Integrated Resource Plan. That plan was developed in response to growing electricity demand across the county—demand that exceeds the output of Grant PUD’s existing hydroelectric facilities at Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams.

The Quincy Solar Project also advances Grant PUD’s compliance with Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act, which requires utilities to transition to 100% clean electricity by 2045. In addition, it supports the utility’s capacity planning as it prepares to join the Western Resource Adequacy Program, a regional effort to maintain grid reliability during peak energy use.

Over its 20-year term, the Quincy Solar Project is expected to contribute more than $27 million to the local economy through land lease payments, local taxes, and other costs. The project will support up to 200 construction jobs and provide two full-time operations and maintenance positions once complete.

“We are excited to partner with the Grant PUD to advance their generation goals and help meet local energy needs with homegrown solar power,” said Laura Miner, Senior Vice President, Renewable Development at Invenergy. “We look forward to continuing to work with landowners, local officials, and the broader community to bring the benefits of Quincy Solar to Grant County residents.”

The Quincy Solar Project was selected from among 82 proposals submitted in response to Grant PUD’s 2024 all-source request for proposals. It was one of six finalists, including the Goose Prairie Solar project near Yakima. Grant PUD has already entered into a separate agreement with Goose Prairie Solar for up to 80 megawatts of power. Together, both projects mark significant progress toward the utility’s 300-megawatt solar target.

Once completed, the Quincy Solar Project will be Invenergy’s first solar facility to reach commercial operations in Washington, increasing the company’s total energy generation capacity in the state to 860 megawatts.