June 26, 2026
Orange, Connecticut-based energy company Avangrid has announced plans to build a new 41 MW/82 MWh battery storage project in Gilliam County, Oregon.
The new location, called Shutler Energy Storage, will strengthen the company’s current 3 GW footprint in the Pacific Northwest. And beyond the project itself, Avangrid has pledged to donate $110,000 each year to two Gilliam County nonprofits on behalf of the project in an effort to support early childhood education and child care options.
The company will split its annual funding evenly, sending $55,000 each to the county Condon Center for Early Learning And Arlington Childcare Center every year until the project is dismantled.
“Shutler Energy Storage reflects Avangrid’s long-term commitment to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, CEO of Avangrid. “This project adds a flexible resource that will strengthen the reliability of the electric grid, support good-paying jobs and ensure the energy we generate is available when communities need it most.”
Shutler Energy Storage will be located adjacent to two existing Avangrid facilities, and a third currently under construction. The battery functions as a massive backup power source and can discharge 41 MW for two hours, officials say. With that level of power production, a single discharge could power about 3,000 average American homes.
“Shutler Energy Storage gives us another tool to effectively manage our regional portfolio, improving the way we coordinate our generation assets and make better use of our existing infrastructure,” said Sy Oytan, CEO of Avangrid Power. “This additional flexibility allows us to respond quickly to changing grid conditions and operate our fleet more efficiently every day.”
Gilliam County Judge Cris Patnode says the cost and availability of childcare is continually rising, creating “barriers to a sustainable workforce.” Under the terms of the funding partnership, he added, Avangrid will create more available child care spaces for families across the province.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening our community and investing in the well-being of local children and families,” said Haylee Andrews, executive director of Condon Early Leaning. “We are grateful for the continued support this agreement will provide to early childhood education in our region.”
In addition to Avangrid’s annual donations, construction of the project will create approximately 35 local union jobs in the northern region of Oregon. The site will serve as a “key resource” for Avangrid’s Balancing Authority program, designed to balance electricity supply and demand in the Pacific Northwest.
Mark Moore, chairman of the board of Arlington Childcare Center, says the project and Avangrid’s annual investments will provide “vital support” for both his organization and the families it serves.
“This type of community partnership provides working families with greater security, allows local businesses to thrive, and ensures our community’s children have access to high-quality early learning experiences for years to come,” he said.
Avangrid representatives say Shutler Energy Storage will likely come online sometime in 2027. The company currently operates more than 11 GW of renewable energy capacity across nearly 100 projects.
Tags: AVANGRID Inc., batteries, BESS, Oregon, project, storage
