Oregon acquires a revolutionary wind / solar / large scale storage facility

A new energy facility in eastern Oregon will be the first of its kind in the United States, combining wind power, solar power and large scale battery storage.

Portland General Electric and NextEra Energy Resources today announced plans for the Wheatridge Renewable Power Plant. The new plant will combine 300 megawatts of wind power, 50 MW of solar power and 30 MW of battery storage.

NextEra plans to inaugurate this year. The wind component of the facility, powered by 120 turbines, is expected to be fully completed by December 2020. Construction of the solar power and battery components is scheduled for 2021.

The Morrow County facility will power 100,000 homes and will allow Portland General Electric to achieve approximately 50% of its customers' energy needs with zero emissions. PGE has also released a short promotional video:

A breakthrough

The Wheatridge installation is a first for the country, but it will also feature at the top of a number of listings in Oregon. It will be both the largest solar farm and the largest battery storage facility in the state. It will also be one of the largest battery storage facilities in the United States.

As expected, the announcement was accompanied by a number of statements from the people involved in the project. NextEra President and CEO Armando Pimentel said:

"This business will enable PGE customers to benefit from more renewable energy for more hours of the day and create substantial economic value for the communities hosting this project, many of which will benefit in the years to come."

American Senator Ron Wyden (D) has been a long-time supporter of clean energy initiatives, including introducing the Clean Energy for America Act in 2017. (Oregon is also a member of the American Climate Alliance, which recently won another Clean Energy for America Act. .) Wyden said about the new facility,

"Portland General Electric's decision to partner with NextEra Energy Resources for the construction of the Wheatridge Renewable Power Plant provides both a well-deserved economic boost to the company. East of Oregon and an important step on the necessary path of our country towards green energy. "

PGE will own 100 MW of the wind power project, while a subsidiary of NextEra will own the rest of the project, selling its production to PGE under 30-year power purchase agreements. PGE plans to invest $ 160 million in the project. The announcement notes that all parts of the project will be eligible for federal tax credits.