IN Brief:
- AtkinsRéalis has been selected as engineer of record for Idaho Power’s Bennett Mountain expansion.
- The project will add nine gas-fired RICE units with total capacity of 162MW.
- Idaho Power’s current schedule points to spring 2026 construction and summer 2028 completion.
AtkinsRéalis has been appointed engineer of record for Idaho Power’s planned Bennett Mountain Power Plant expansion, a project intended to add fast-start generation capacity as electricity demand continues to rise across the utility’s service area.
The engineering role has been awarded by MasTec Industrial Corporation and covers a 162MW expansion based on nine natural gas-fired reciprocating internal combustion engine units. AtkinsRéalis said the scheme is designed to provide flexible output during peak demand periods and strengthen grid reliability in the region.
Idaho Power’s published project information shows the expansion is expected to power up to 60,000 homes when demand is highest, using infrastructure already in place at the Mountain Home site. The utility says construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with permit issuance expected in fall 2026 and completion targeted for summer 2028.
The project adds to a wider North American pipeline of utility-led generation and grid support schemes where engineering appointments are moving into place ahead of full construction activity. It also shows continued use of modular, fast-ramping thermal plant where utilities are looking to balance system reliability with rising demand.
