Oregon Utility Commits to Support 120 MW Solar Project

Key Takeaways

Avangrid and Portland General Electric have launched Tower Solar, a 120 MW AC solar project in Morrow County, Oregon.
The facility will support PGE’s Green Future Impact program, enabling large customers like QTS to meet sustainability goals.
Tower Solar, utilizing over 200,000 solar panels, is expected to create 200 jobs and contribute $20 million in taxes.

Tower Solar Project Details

Avangrid Inc. has partnered with Portland General Electric (PGE) to develop the Tower Solar project, a significant solar energy installation in Morrow County, Oregon. The project, which boasts a capacity of 120 MW AC, is currently under construction in collaboration with QTS and Meta.

The energy produced by Tower Solar will be integrated into PGE’s grid through its Green Future Impact (GFI) program. This program is designed to assist large commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in achieving their sustainability and carbon reduction objectives by investing in new clean energy resources. Subscribers to the GFI program will receive renewable energy certificates (RECs) linked to the output of this solar facility, with pricing structures aimed at preventing cost shifts to customers who are not participating in the program.

The GFI initiative allows PGE to work closely with major clients like QTS, which is building a data center campus to support Meta’s operations in the region. This partnership underscores Meta’s commitment to sustainability and its goal of 100% renewable energy utilization.

Brett Greene of PGE highlighted, “The Green Future Impact program allows PGE to partner with our largest customers like QTS to meet their ambitious sustainability goals through local clean energy.” The GFI program enables these clients to directly fund the development of renewable resources while also fostering green job opportunities and generating revenue for local Oregon communities.

Tower Solar will be situated on approximately 900 acres of industrially zoned land owned by the Port of Morrow, near Boardman Airport. The project will employ over 200,000 solar panels, making it a major contributor to the region’s renewable energy portfolio.

Construction of Tower Solar is expected to create more than 200 jobs, predominantly for local workers. In addition to job creation, the project is anticipated to yield about $20 million in payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) and property taxes, further supporting the local economy.

Avangrid has established itself as a primary provider of renewable energy for PGE’s GFI program, which already includes Oregon’s largest solar installation, Pachwáywit Fields, as well as the emerging Daybreak and Bakeoven solar farms. With the addition of Tower Solar, the total capacity of energy facilities under the GFI program will reach 482 MW AC.

Upon completion in 2026, Tower Solar will mark Avangrid’s sixth solar facility in Oregon, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding renewable energy infrastructure in the state while providing tangible benefits to local communities and stakeholders.

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