December 12, 2024
The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) has approved the Sunstone Solar project. Considered the largest solar project in the United States, Pine Gate renewable energy sources can now proceed with construction of the 1.2 GW solar and 1.2 GW storage project.
The Sunstone Solar project site covers 10,000 hectares and will be located on private land zoned for agricultural use. According to a company announcement, Pine Gate has partnered with Morrow County and agricultural organizations to create a program that aims to offset the project’s impact on the local agricultural economy. The first-of-its-kind initiative will invest more than $1,000 per project acre into a county-administered fund for programs that support the local agricultural economy and improve the long-term viability and resiliency of Morrow County’s wheat farms.
“As a lifelong resident of Morrow County, I am pleased that Sunstone Solar is moving forward so that the local community can benefit from the economic opportunities the project will bring,” said Ken Grieb, a wheat farmer and landowner in the project. “Pine Gate has demonstrated how the development of major energy facilities can be done thoughtfully and collaboratively.”
The EFSC’s approval was the final step in the state’s review and public engagement process and marked an important step forward for Pine Gate Renewables, the State of Oregon, and renewable energy in the United States.
“Oregon’s energy facility permitting process is one of the most rigorous in the entire country,” said Ben Catt, CEO of Pine Gate Renewables. “The recent unanimous approval of the permit is a testament to how our team has worked with stakeholders to create a win-win situation for Oregon and the Morrow County community.”
Pine Gate is in discussions with customers and local utilities to purchase the electrical and environmental attributes of the energy produced by the project, which will connect to the Bonneville Power Administration through the Umatilla Electric Cooperative system. The project will begin the engineering and procurement process in early 2025, ahead of phased construction from 2026.
“Fighting the climate crisis depends on a variety of successful energy solutions, like Pine Gate Renewables’ solar and energy storage project in Eastern Oregon,” said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). “This is just one example of the important federal investments I fought for in the Inflation Reduction Act, and I will continue to advocate for technology-neutral solutions in our tax code that promote innovation and efficiency in Oregon and across the country.”
Pine Gate owns and operates 17 other solar projects in Oregon. The company acquired the Sunstone Solar project from Gallatin Power Partners in 2022.
Tags: solar + storage, utility scale
