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Sunstone Solar Project (FKA Echo Solar Project)

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The Sunstone Solar Project (formerly Echo Solar Project) is a proposed 1,200-megawatt solar photovoltaic power generation facility. In addition to the proposed solar photovoltaic arrays, the facility would include:

- Up to 7,200 MW hours of battery storage capacity
- An interconnection substation
- Up to six collector substations
- Up to four operations and maintenance buildings
- Up to 9.5 miles of 230-kilovolt (kV) overhead transmission lines
- Other structures including roads, perimeter fencing and gates.

If approved, the facility would occupy approximately 9,442 acres (14.75 sq. miles) of private land zoned for Exclusive Farm Use within an approximately 10,960-acre (17-sq. mile) site in Morrow County, Oregon.

Proposed/Under Review. The applicant filed a complete Application for Site Certificate (ASC) on May 15, 2024. The Oregon Department of Energy (Department) issued the Draft Proposed Order (DPO) on the ASC, and a Public Notice of Public Comment Period and Public Hearing on the DPO, on July 12, 2024. The Public Hearing on the DPO was held at the Council’s meeting in Hermiston, Oregon on August 22, 2024. The public comment period ended at the close of the hearing. All comments received on the ASC and DPO are available on the Siting Docket.
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On October 8, 2024, the Department issued its Proposed Order on the ASC. On the same date, the Department issued a Public Notice of the Proposed Order and Opportunity to Request to Participate in the Contested Case. These documents are available below.


The Proposed Order includes changes from the DPO based on comments received during the DPO comment period, certificate holder responses to comments, and Council’s review of the DPO. All changes from the DPO to Proposed Order are presented in “red-line” format to track the changes. The Proposed Order recommends Council approve the request and grant issuance of a site certificate, subject to conditions recommended in the Proposed Order.


Persons eligible to request to participate in the contested case must submit a written petition to the Hearing Officer. All petitions must be received by the Hearing Officer no later than November 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific to be considered. Please see the Public Notice in the timeline below for detailed information on requesting to participate in the contested case.


Petitions requesting party status in the contested case may be submitted via U.S. mail, email, or fax to:


Senior Administrative Law Judge Kate Triana

Oregon Office of Administrative Hearings
PO Box 14020
Salem, OR 97309-4020
Phone: 503-612-4300
Fax: 503-947-1531
Email: OED_OAH_Referral@oregon.gov
(Please note two underscores (“_") in email address)

Additionally, please submit an electronic copy of the petition to the Department's Siting Analyst at: christopher.clark@energy.oregon.gov

​Morrow County, approximately 15 miles northeast of Lexington, Oregon.​ PDF Map | Online Map

Applicant/Certificate holder: Sunstone Solar, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine Gate Renewables, LLC
ODOE contact: Christopher Clark
Applicant/Certificate holder contact: Logan Stephens

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Project Timeline

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Milestone
  
Additional Documents
Display Date
  
Notice of Intent
05/10/2022
09/27/2022
Complete Application for Site Certificate

​Exhibit A: Applicant Information 
Exhibit B: Project Description
Exhibit C: Property Location and Maps
Exhibit D: Organizational Information
Exhibit E: Permits Required
Exhibit F: Property Ownership 
Exh​ibit G: Materials Analysis
Exhibit H: Geology and Soil Stability 
Exhibit I: Soils 
Exhibit J: Wetlands
Exhibit K: Land Use
Exhibit L: Protected Areas
Exhibit M: Financial Analysis
Exhibit N: Non-generating Facility Information
Exhibit O: Water Requirements
Exhibit P: Fish Wildlife Habitat 
Exhibit Q: Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals
Exhibit R: Scenic Aesthetic Values 
Exhibit S: Cultural Resources
Exhibit T: Recreational Facilities 
Exhibit U: Public Services
Exhibit V: Wildfire
Exhibit W: Waste Minimization 
Exhibit X: Site Restoration
Exhibit Y: Noise 
Exhibit Z: Cooling Towers  
Exhibit AA: EMFs – Electric and Magnetic Fields
Exhibit BB: Other Information
Exhibit CC: Additional Statutes Rules Ordinances
Exhibit DD​​​: Other Specific Standards​​​

05/16/2024
07/12/2024
Close of Public Comment Period and In-Person Hearing on DPO
08/22/2024
10/08/2024
10/08/2024
Deadline for petitions to participate in the contested case
11/07/2024

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Exhibit Files Reference

  • Exhibit A: Applicant Information 
  • Exhibit B: Project Description
  • Exhibit C: Property Location and Maps
  • Exhibit D: Organizational Information
  • Exhibit E​: Permits Required
  • Exhibit F: Property Ownership 
  • Exhibit G: Materials Analysis
  • Exhibit H: Geology and Soil Stability 
  • Exhibit I: Soils
  • Exhibit J: Wetlands
  • Exhibit K: Land Use
  • Exhibit L: Protected Areas
  • Exhibit M: Financial Analysis
  • Exhibit N​: Non-generating Facility Information
  • Exhibit O: Water Requirements
  • Exhibit P: Fish Wildlife Habitat 
  • Exhibit Q: Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals
  • Exhibit R: Scenic Aesthetic Values 
  • Exhibit S: Cultural Resources
  • Exhibit T: Recreational Facilities 
  • Exhibit U: Public Services
  • Exhibit V​: Waste Minimization 
  • Exhibit W: Site Restoration
  • Exhibit X: Noise 
  • Exhibit Y: Carbon Dioxide Emissions 
  • Exhibit Z: Cooling Towers  
  • Exhibit AA: EMFs – Electric and Magnetic Fields
  • Exhibit BB: Other Information
  • Exhibit CC: Additional Statutes Rules Ordinances
  • Exhibit DD​: Other Specific Standards