Oregon to get massive 900MW solar project with battery storage

Brookfield Renewable US has filed a notice of intent to develop one of the largest solar and battery storage projects in Oregon.

The 900-megawatt (MW) Speedway Solar and Battery Storage project will be located east of the Sherman County city of Grass Valley and will span about 9,500 acres on private land. It was named so because it is near an active racetrack. Brookfield has not yet disclosed how much battery energy it intends to use, but the solar farm could potentially power up to 150,000 homes.

The racetrack will be adjacent to an existing high-voltage transmission line, and the electricity it generates will be transmitted to the grid through a new Bonneville Power Administration distribution station, built on the project site and used throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Renewable energy developer and operator Brookfield says Speedway’s distinguishing feature is its layout. The solar array will be “ribbons” along the edges of fields to protect existing agricultural and wildlife corridors while allowing the land to continue to be used for agriculture.

Speedway is expected to be a game-changer for Oregon’s renewable energy scene. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Oregon currently ranks 24th in the U.S. for solar power, boasting about 1,815 MW of installed solar capacity. Speedway would significantly increase those numbers, pushing Oregon even higher in the rankings.

Brookfield aims to obtain a final order and site certificate for the Speedway by spring 2026.

Read more: Oregon Just Gained Its First Offshore Wind Areas with 2.4 GW Potential

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