Two new solar projects in Wasco County, Oregon – Daybreak Solar and Bakeoven Solar – have begun commercial operations and will supply energy to utility Portland General Electric. The 189 MWDC Daybreak Solar and 80 MWDC Bakeoven Solar represent new domestic capacity that will support growing electricity demand.
Bakeoven Solar with Oregon’s Mount Hood in the background. Avangrid
“The completion of these two projects marks the latest milestone in a critical investment in Wasco County that will bring new jobs, modern infrastructure and a more resilient electric grid to Oregon,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, CEO of Avangridthe developer of the projects. “Together with PGE and Intel, we are delivering a new source of reliable energy that will power Oregon’s communities and industries for decades to come.”
Avangrid installed a total of 650,000 solar panels at Daybreak and Bakeoven, which are located next to each other. The projects supported more than 300 construction jobs, filled primarily by local union workers.
Avangrid estimates that the two projects will generate approximately $40 million in tax revenue over their lifetime. The projects also support several permanent, full-time positions for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the facilities. Daybreak and Bakeoven are the first commercial-scale solar projects built in Wasco County.
“Our region has a history of energy production, and now we are finding other ways to leverage our abundant regional resources, like Eastern Oregon’s sun and the Columbia Gorge Winds, to meet the growing demand for the new ways we use electricity,” said Wasco County Commissioner Phil Brady. “The Daybreak and Bakeoven facilities will help meet our growing demand while contributing to our local economy and supporting our local taxing districts such as the Wasco County Library and the Deschutes Rim Health Clinic.”
The facilities provide electricity to PGE’s electric grid through Green Future Impact (GFI), a voluntary program designed to help major municipal, commercial and industrial customers like Intel achieve their sustainability and carbon reduction goals by developing new clean energy facilities in the region.
“By strengthening the energy infrastructure on which our operations depend, these projects will help meet growing electricity demand, advance Intel’s goal of achieving 100% renewable electricity for our global operations by 2030, and deliver lasting economic and environmental benefits to Wasco County and the broader region,” said Madison West, Global Head of Sustainability at Intel. “Daybreak and Bakeoven demonstrate the kind of regional collaboration needed to bring new utility-scale renewable capacity online – supporting local jobs, improving grid resiliency and ensuring Oregon is well-positioned for future growth.”
Avangrid is working with a fifth-generation Oregon rancher to graze approximately 3,000 sheep on both projects. This will limit vegetation growth and reduce the risk of wildfires during summers in the Pacific Northwest. Avangrid has already started solar grazing activities at two other solar projects in the region.
The company operates 2.5 GW of manufacturing capacity in Oregon and has a headquarters in Portland that supports 375 jobs. In 2024, Avangrid opened its National Training Center in nearby Sherman County.
News item from Avangrid
