The first utility-scale facilities to co-locate wind, solar and
battery storage makes the clean energy future a reality in
Oregon
Link for photos: Wheatridge commissioning photos
LEXINGTON, Ore., Sept. 28,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 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 megawatts of wind, 50 megawatts of
solar and 30 megawatts 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% 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.
"By supporting innovative projects like Wheatridge, we continue
to accelerate renewable energy solutions for our state, communities
and customers, while maintaining reliability and affordability,"
said Maria Pope, president and CEO
of Portland General Electric. "This partnership marks a
technological milestone in decarbonizing our system and making
clean energy accessible to all Oregonians."
"A major achievement like Wheatridge doesn't happen by osmosis –
it requires teamwork and I'm happy to have teamed up over the years
with PGE, Umatilla Electric, NextEra Energy Resources, local
leaders and farmers like Jerry
Rietmann to help this significant project reach this
milestone moment," said U.S. Senator Ron
Wyden. "Paired with the historic gains I worked to achieve
on climate in the Inflation Reduction Act, this groundbreaking
renewable energy project will deliver big benefits that generate
good rural jobs in Eastern Oregon
and move forward toward a clean energy future."
"It's because of projects like Wheatridge that Oregon is leading the way in growing our clean
energy economy. Under my administration, Oregon has taken a comprehensive approach to
reducing our carbon emissions and moving Oregon towards 100% clean energy on one of the
most ambitious timelines in the nation," said Gov. Kate Brown. "I firmly believe we can move to
100% clean electricity sources and create good-paying jobs in rural
Oregon at the same time.
"The urgency of getting clean energy projects online could not
be clearer. Extreme heat, wildfires, drought, and winter storms –
we are seeing the impacts of climate change in Oregon, with some of the biggest impacts in
rural Oregon," added Brown.
"Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we now have the
opportunity to pursue federal funding through the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to create clean
energy jobs throughout the state."
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.
"We're pleased to have Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities
located in Morrow County and to
play a part in providing clean energy to Oregonians," said
Don Russell, Morrow County Commissioner. "This facility
provides jobs and tax revenue for our schools and county services
while also supporting economic opportunities for the agricultural
community. Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities also strengthens
Morrow County's position in the
region's clean energy economy."
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 megawatts 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.
NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources,
LLC (together with its affiliated entities, "NextEra Energy
Resources") is a clean energy leader and is one of the largest
wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., with
approximately 24,600 megawatts of total net generating capacity,
primarily in 38 states and Canada
as of year-end 2021. NextEra Energy Resources, together with its
affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable
energy from the wind and sun based on 2021 megawatt hours produced
on a net generation basis, and a world leader in battery storage.
The business operates clean, emissions-free nuclear power
generation facilities in New
Hampshire and Wisconsin as
part of the NextEra Energy nuclear fleet. NextEra Energy Resources,
LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach,
Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more
information, visit www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
About Portland General Electric Company
Portland
General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company
based in Portland, Oregon. The
company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area
population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16
generation plants across Oregon
and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 9 public
parks and recreation areas. For more than 130 years, PGE has
powered the advancement of society, delivering safe, affordable,
and reliable energy to Oregonians. PGE and its approximately 3,000
employees are working with customers to build a clean energy
future. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary
renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE is committed to achieving
at least an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power
served to customers by 2030 and 100% reduction by 2040. In 2021,
PGE became the first U.S. utility to join The Climate Pledge. For
the ninth year in a row PGE achieved a perfect score on the Human
Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index, a national
benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices
related to LGBTQ workplace equality. In 2021, PGE, employees,
retirees, and the PGE Foundation donated $4.8 million and volunteered 15,760 hours with
more than 300 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit
www.PortlandGeneral.com/news.
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SOURCE NextEra Energy Resources, LLC