Jefferson County commissioners have approved a site control agreement for a proposed battery energy storage project near Madras, moving the development one step closer to reality. County leaders say the agreement allows a feasibility study to proceed, which will determine whether the project moves toward construction.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) store electricity generated from solar, wind, or the grid during low-demand periods and release it during peak demand — a key technology as Oregon and the western United States work to stabilize a grid increasingly powered by intermittent renewable sources.
Why Madras Makes Sense
Jefferson County has emerged as a hub for energy development in Central Oregon in recent years. The area’s abundant solar resource, available land, and proximity to existing transmission infrastructure have made it attractive for utility-scale solar and now energy storage projects. A large solar facility near Madras received state approval through the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC), with the project holding a construction commencement deadline of early 2028.
Battery storage complements solar generation by capturing energy during the afternoon peak production window and dispatching it during evening hours when demand remains high but solar generation drops off — a dynamic that is becoming increasingly important as Oregon’s solar capacity grows.
Economic and Energy Implications
Large-scale battery storage projects represent potential economic development for rural counties. Construction phases typically bring temporary jobs and local spending, while operational phases provide long-term property tax revenue. For a county of Jefferson County’s size, a utility-scale BESS project would be a notable addition to the tax base.
The site control agreement approved by commissioners does not commit the county to the project or authorize construction — it gives the developer the legal standing to conduct site assessments, environmental reviews, and grid interconnection studies. Those studies will inform whether a formal permit application follows.
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have also been active in the renewable energy space: in February 2026, the Tribes received a $1 million federal grant to install solar and battery storage systems at three housing and community sites on the Warm Springs Reservation — a separate but related sign of the region’s growing energy storage footprint.
Details on the Madras project’s developer, proposed capacity, and timeline are expected to become public as the feasibility study process advances. Jefferson County Board of Commissioners meetings are open to the public and held at the county courthouse in Madras.