Jefferson County commissioners have approved a site control agreement for a proposed utility-scale battery energy storage project in Madras, clearing the way for developers to conduct feasibility studies on county-owned land.
The agreement does not commit Jefferson County to hosting the project, but it gives the developer the access and legal standing needed to assess whether the site is suitable for a large-scale battery storage facility. County leaders described the agreement as an important first step in a process that could bring significant economic benefits to the region.
What Is Battery Storage and Why Does It Matter?
Utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) store electricity generated by renewable sources — particularly solar and wind — and release it to the grid when demand is high or generation is low. Oregon has seen growing interest in battery storage projects as the state pushes toward ambitious clean energy goals and seeks to address grid reliability challenges.
Jefferson County sits in a part of Central Oregon with excellent solar resources and existing transmission infrastructure, making it a logical candidate for energy storage development. A utility-scale project in Madras could potentially generate lease revenues for the county, create construction and maintenance jobs, and contribute to Oregon’s clean energy transition.
Context: Statewide Energy Storage Push
Oregon is in the midst of a major energy storage buildout. Portland General Electric has contracted for hundreds of megawatts of battery storage, and a recent $83 million Amazon acquisition of a Central Oregon solar-plus-storage development site signals how seriously large players are taking the region’s energy potential.
Earlier this year, a preliminary application was also filed with the Oregon Department of Energy for the Deschutes Solar and Battery Energy Storage System facility, currently under state review.
What Comes Next
With the site control agreement in place, developers will now conduct environmental, geotechnical, and grid interconnection studies to determine if the Madras location is viable. If feasibility checks out, the project would then move through state and local permitting processes.
Jefferson County commissioners and staff will continue to engage with the developer as the feasibility process unfolds. Community members interested in learning more can contact the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners office in Madras.