SMUD solar and battery project advances in Placer County
Construction activity is now clearly visible across the Country Acres Solar Project site in western Placer County. New aerials show major progress on one of SMUD’s largest renewable energy developments.
Support our work and unlock all articles, project updates, and subscriber-only insights by subscribing to Onsite Observer.
The project, located west of Roseville on roughly 1,100 acres, is a joint venture between the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Clēnera, a Boise, Idaho-based renewable energy developer. When completed, the facility is expected to generate 344 megawatts of alternating current solar power and include 172 megawatts of battery storage, allowing energy to be stored and delivered when demand on the grid is highest.
According to project documents, the Country Acres Solar Project is expected to generate enough zero-carbon electricity to power more than 80,000 homes each year, an output that SMUD equates to removing more than 25,000 cars from the road annually.
Recent drone footage shows that large portions of the site have moved beyond grading and into active infrastructure installation. Near the southern portion of the site, work is concentrated around the electrical infrastructure, where substation and switchyard components are taking shape. Adjacent work zones appear dedicated to the battery energy storage system. A crane, earthmoving equipment, and utility vehicles are spread throughout the site’s footprint.
Once operational, the Country Acres project will supply clean electricity directly to SMUD under a power purchase agreement. The site will continue to support limited agricultural uses, including sheep grazing for vegetation management, with native grasses, clover, and pollinator-friendly plants planted beneath and around the solar panels, according to project documents.
McCarthy Building Companies and Dashiell are serving as engineering, procurement, and construction contractors for the project.
Environmental review for the project was finalized in April 2023, and Placer County approved the project’s entitlements in February 2024 following a multi-year review process led by SMUD. Construction began in fall 2024 and is scheduled to continue through late 2026, with commercial operation targeted for that year.
