Two new solar projects in Wasco County, Oregon – Daybreak Solar and Bakeoven Solar – have started commercial operations and will deliver energy to utility Portland General Electric. The 189-MWDC Daybreak Solar and 80-MWDC Bakeoven Solar represent new domestic capacity that will support growing demand for electricity.
Bakeoven Solar with Oregon’s Mt. Hood in the background. Avangrid
“Completing these two projects marks the latest milestone in a pivotal investment in Wasco County, bringing new jobs, modern infrastructure and a more resilient power grid for Oregon,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, CEO of Avangrid, the projects’ developer. “Together with PGE and Intel, we’re delivering a new source of reliable power that will energize Oregon’s communities and industries for decades to come.”
Avangrid installed a combined 650,000 solar panels at Daybreak and Bakeoven, which are located adjacent to each other. The projects supported over 300 construction jobs, filled mainly by local union labor.
Avangrid estimates the two projects will generate approximately $40 million in tax revenue over their life span. The projects also support several permanent, full-time jobs for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the facilities. Daybreak and Bakeoven are the first commercial-scale solar projects built in Wasco County.
“Our region has a history of energy production, and now we are finding other ways to harness our abundant regional resources like the Eastern Oregon sunshine and Columbia Gorge Winds to meet growing demand from the new ways we are using electricity,” said Phil Brady, Wasco County commissioner. “The Daybreak and Bakeoven facilities will help meet our growing demand while contributing to our local economy and supporting our local tax districts such as the Wasco County Library and the Deschutes Rim Health Clinic.”
The facilities are delivering electricity to PGE’s grid through Green Future Impact (GFI), a voluntary program designed to help large municipal, commercial and industrial customers like Intel meet their sustainability and carbon reduction goals by developing new clean energy facilities in the region.
“By strengthening the energy infrastructure our operations depend on, these projects help meet growing electricity demand, advance Intel’s goal of achieving 100% renewable electricity across our global operations by 2030, and deliver lasting economic and environmental benefits for Wasco County and the broader region,” said Madison West, global head of sustainability, Intel. “Daybreak and Bakeoven demonstrate the kind of regional collaboration needed to bring new, utility-scale renewable capacity online – supporting local jobs, improving grid resilience, and helping ensure Oregon is well positioned for future growth.”
Avangrid has partnered with a fifth-generation Oregon rancher to graze approximately 3,000 sheep at both projects. This will limit vegetation growth and reduce wildfire risks during the Pacific Northwest’s summers. Avangrid already initiated solar grazing operations at two other solar projects in the region.
The company operates 2.5 GW of generating capacity in Oregon, maintaining a corporate office in Portland that supports 375 jobs. In 2024, Avangrid opened its National Training Center in nearby Sherman County.
News item from Avangrid
