This week, state and local leaders joined NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, and Portland General Electric (PGE) to celebrate the commissioning of the first utility-scale energy facilities in North America to co-locate wind, solar and battery storage, generating renewable power for customers.
Near Lexington in Morrow County, Oregon, Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities includes 300 MW of wind, 50 MW of solar and 30 MW of battery storage. Together, these technologies provide reliable power from renewable, carbon-free resources.
“Bringing wind, solar and energy storage together at one site is quite a significant moment for renewable technologies. We’re pleased to work with Portland General Electric and help them achieve their decarbonization goals,” said Rebecca Kujawa, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and a world leader in battery storage. “These facilities generate low-cost, homegrown energy and will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Morrow County over the life of the project.”
Wheatridge plays a key role in helping PGE meet Oregon’s targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power served to retail customers by at least 80%1 by 2030, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. Wheatridge’s capabilities allow it to power the equivalent of 100,000 homes, helping to create a cleaner and more resilient Oregon.
Facility Details
Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities generate power using wind and solar technology. The battery storage system stores electricity not immediately used and delivers it when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining.
The facilities brought a significant investment to the community. Construction of the Wheatridge wind farm, solar and storage sites created 300 jobs. Approximately 10 full-time employees operate the combined facilities.
Ownership and Construction
The project’s early development work as a wind farm was performed by Swaggart Wind Power, LLC, an affiliate of Eolian, L.P. NextEra Energy Resources purchased the development rights and together with PGE expanded the project scope to include solar generation and battery storage.
Power from Wheatridge will reach PGE customers via a new transmission line, constructed by Umatilla Electric Cooperative, that connects Wheatridge locally with the Bonneville Power Administration’s regional high-voltage grid.
PGE owns 100 MW of the wind project. A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources owns the balance of the project and will sell its output to PGE under 30- and 20-year power purchase agreements. The NextEra Energy Resources’ subsidiary built and operates the combined facility.
