State of Oregon: Facilities - EFSC Project Updates: April 2025

This page has the latest information on energy projects under state jurisdiction. We update this page monthly to help you stay involved and in-the-know about energy facility news.

 April 2025 Siting Project Updates

The Latest Updates
Approved Facilities Under Construction: Bakeoven Solar Project Daybreak Solar Project Leaning Juniper IIA Wind Power Facility Wheatridge Renewable Energy East
Boardman Coal Plant – Review of Termination Request The Department is conducting its review of the termination request, in conjunction/consultation with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Public Utilities Commission staff. This review is expected to continue through Feb/March 2025. The Department will present its recommendations to Council for concurrence, modification, or rejection to terminate the site certificate, expected during the first quarter of 2025.
Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line – Amendment 2 Appeal On March 27, 2025 the Oregon Supreme Court issued their opinion in Irene Gilbert v. Oregon Department of Energy (SC S071487) and Kevin March v. Oregon Department of Energy (SC S071521), affirming the Council’s September 2024 Final Order in full. Construction of the facility is anticipated to commence in 2nd/3rd Qtr 2025.
Buckley Solar Facility – Notice of Intent The applicant has indicated that they intend to submit a preliminary application for site certificate (pASC) in late 2025. pASC must be submitted by August 2026.
Carty Generating Station – Preliminary Request for Amendment 4 (Suspended) Suspended. Preliminary Request for Amendment (pRFA4) was submitted on February 16, 2024. The Department determined pRFA4 was incomplete on April 16, 2024 and sent requests for additional information. The Department has suspended work until responses are received.
Cascade Renewable Transmission System – Notice of Intent At its meeting on March 14, 2025, Council granted a one-year extension of the NOI expiration date. The new expiration date is March 7, 2026. The Department will issue an amended Project Order reflecting the new expiration date as well as recent rule changes in the coming weeks. The applicant has indicated that it intends to submit the preliminary Application for Site Certificate (pASC) in mid-2025.
Deschutes Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Facility – Notice of Intent The Department held a Public Informational Meeting at the Maupin Civic Center in Maupin on March 27, 2025. The Department is preparing the Project Order. The Public Comment period is open and will close at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on April 25, 2025.
Klamath Falls Energy Center – Notice of Intent (no ODOE webpage) Review and Notice of the NOI is on hold pending the submission of a new NOI.
Leaning Juniper IIB Wind Power Facility – Amendment 3 The deadline for responses to requests for additional information (RAI’s) on the preliminary request for amendment (pRFA) was March 20, 2025. However, the certificate holder requested additional time to respond to the requests based on ongoing coordination with ODFW and the Department for the evaluation of Washington Ground Squirrel habitat. The Department is waiting for responses to RAI’s and is continuing its review of pRFA3 in conjunction with reviewing agencies and local governments and is working on the draft proposed order. ADR Type B Requested (Under Review) The Department will review the ADR and make a determination. The determination will be posted to the Department’s project webpage; a courtesy electronic notification will be issued, notifying recipients of the Department’s determination and its availability.
Madras Solar Energy Facility – Final Order Council reviewed the Proposed Order at the March 21, 2025 EFSC meeting and adopted the Proposed Order as the Final Order with one modification. The Department issued the Final Order on March 28, 2025. Any appeals to the Oregon Supreme Court must be filed by May 27, 2025.
Muddy Creek Energy Park – Notice of Intent On March 31, 2025 the applicant requested to extend the expiration of the NOI by one year, to May 19, 2026. Council will review the extension request at the May 2025 Council meeting.
Obsidian Solar Center – Preliminary Request for Amendment 2 The certificate holder provided responses to the Department’s second set of Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) on March 27, 2025. The Department reviewed the RAI responses to determine whether the pRFA is complete. Once submitted, the Department will review the complete RFA and finalize the Draft Proposed Order (DPO). The Department expects to issue the DPO in early April. ADR - Determination On February 26, 2025, the Department issued its determination that Type B review was justified for the review of the requested amendment.
Summit Ridge Renewable Energy Facility – Notice of Intent The preliminary Application for Site Certificate must be submitted by January 2026.
Sunrise Solar and Storage Projects – Notice of Intent The Department issued a Public Notice on the NOI on March 26, 2025, opening a Public Comment Period on the NOI and announcing a Public Information Meeting. The Department is coordinating with reviewing agencies and preparing the Project Order. The Public Information Meeting on the NOI will be held at the Riverfront Room at the Port of Morrow in Boardman on April 24, 2025. The Public Comment Period on the NOI is open and will close at 5:00 p.m. PT on May 23, 2025.
Umatilla-Morrow County Connect Project – Notice of Intent Preliminary Application for Site Certificate must be submitted by September 2025.
Yellow Rosebush Energy Center – Preliminary Application for Site Certificate (pASC) The Department is reviewing responses to its information request received on March 21, 2025. The Department anticipates issuing a Draft Proposed Order in 2nd Quarter 2025.
Rulemaking – Tribal Government Staff presented draft rule language for review by the tribes at the January 28, 2025 Cultural Resource Cluster meeting. Staff are in the process of reaching out to the Federally recognized tribes of Oregon to discuss updated draft language. Once this process of collaboration with the tribes is complete, staff will present draft rule language to Council at a future Council meeting (TBD) for consideration as part of a notice of proposed rulemaking and the start of the formal rulemaking process.
Rulemaking – Site Certificate Amendment Staff have prepared a preliminary draft of proposed rules. Looking Forward: A Rulemaking Advisory Committee meeting will be held later in April (exact date TBD) to discuss the draft rules.
Rulemaking - Application Process Phase 2 Council approved these rules on March 21, 2025. Staff filed the permanent rulemaking order with the Secretary of State on April 1, 2025, which is the effective date for this rulemaking.
Rulemaking - Radioactive Transport Fees A final RAC has been selected. Staff are currently reaching out to RAC members to schedule the first RAC meeting.
Rulemaking - Modernization Informal rulemaking was initiated by the Council at its meeting on March 21, 2025. Staff are currently working on developing a complete list of issues to be addressed by this rulemaking project.

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EFSC Project Updates: April 2025

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