Oregon approves largest solar energy project proposal in the nation

PORTLNAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A major solar energy project has been given the green light by state officials -- bringing the nation's largest solar project proposal to eastern Oregon, according to Pine Gate Renewables.

Pine Gate Renewables, the company behind the proposed Sunstone Solar project, announced its approval earlier in December by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council.

The approval authorizes Pine Gate Renewables to begin construction of the 1,200-megawatt solar and 1,200-megawatt storage facility in Morrow County with construction slated to begin in 2026.

The site is over 10,000 acres and will sit on private land that is zoned for farm use. In a press release announcing the project's approval, Pine Gate Renewables said the company worked extensively with Morrow County and agricultural organizations to offset the project’s impact on the local agricultural economy.

The company said it will create a first-of-its-kind program with a one-time investment of over $1,000 per project acre into a county-managed fund for programs supporting the agricultural economy, including the viability of Morrow County’s wheat farms.

“Oregon’s energy facility permitting process is one of the most rigorous in the entire country,” said Ben Catt, chief executive officer of Pine Gate Renewables. “The recent unanimous permit approval is a testament to the way our team worked with stakeholders to provide a win-win for Oregon and the Morrow County community.”  

A spokesperson for Pine Gate Renewables told KOIN 6 News that the company is in active conversations with several customers, including local utilities, to purchase energy outputs from the project.

The spokesperson also cited a Portland Business Journal report, stating the project could produce enough power in a year to match the energy use of almost 300,000 Oregon homes.

An initial estimate placed the project at over $1 billion, Pine Gate Renewables said, noting, "The growing need for electricity in the Pacific Northwest was the largest driver," for selecting Oregon as the project's destination, adding, "other key factors included the rigor and predictability of the state permitting process and Eastern Oregon’s relatively flat, dry landscape."

This marks Pine Gate Renewables' latest project as the company has more than 100 solar facilities – including 17 other solar projects in Oregon.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden praised the project's approval as a way to address climate change, stating, “The fight against the climate crisis depends on a variety of successful energy solutions like Pine Gate Renewables’ solar power and energy storage project in Eastern Oregon,” adding, “This is just another example of the important federal investments I fought for in the Inflation Reduction Act, and I will continue to advocate for tech-neutral solutions in our tax code that promote innovation and efficiency in Oregon and across the nation.”