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Facilities

The Obsidian Solar Center is an approved solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation facility with a nominal generating capacity of 400 megawatts, located within a site boundary of approximately 3,921 acres (6.1 sq. miles). The approved facility includes either a solar PV without battery storage (PV only), or a solar PV with 50 MW of battery storage [dispersed or centralized] (PV plus storage). Approved related or supporting facilities include a 34.5 kV electrical collection system, up to four 1-acre collector substations, one 3-acre 115/500 kV step-up substation, 2 miles of 115 kV transmission line, up to 2 O&M building(s); and, a SCADA System, approximately 50 miles of internal/perimeter roads, and 7-foot-tall perimeter fencing. The certificate holder is Obsidian Renewables, LLC (a subsidiary of Obsidian Renewables, LLC and Lindgren Development, Inc.).

Approved/Under Review. The deadline for the certificate holder to commence construction is February 25, 2025. The certificate holder must complete construction of the facility within three years of the construction commencement date.

On April 12, 2023 the certificate holder submitted a preliminary Request for Amendment 1 (pRFA1) of the site certificate requesting to expand the facility site boundary 169 acres in order to accommodate an alternative location for the facility Generation Step Up (GSU) substation and Point of Interconnection (POI); an increase to the length and voltage of the gen-tie transmission line from approximately 2 miles to up to 3.2 miles and from 115-kV to 138-kV; and a change to the electric collection system within the photovoltaic (PV) array to increase the voltage from 34.5-kV to 138-kV and bring overhead approximately 2.3 miles of the approved collection line.

Based on the certificate holder's responses the Department's request for additional information (RAI), the Department determined the RFA1 complete and the complete RFA1 was submitted on August 1, 2023. On August 1, 2023, The Department issued the Draft Proposed Order (DPO) recommending Council approval of the amendment request. On the same day, the Department issued the Public Notice of a public hearing on the DPO and RFA1, initiating a public comment period on both the RFA1 and DPO. The RFA1, DPO, and Public Notice are available on the Timeline below.  

The Public Hearing on the Draft Proposed Order was held virtually and in person in Christmas Valley Oregon on August 24, 2023. Council reviewed the DPO at the September 22, 2023 EFSC meeting. Based on the comments received, the Department has issued the Proposed Order on September 26, 2023 and also issued the Public Notice on the Proposed Order and Opportunity to Request a Contested Case on the same day. The Proposed Order and Public Notice are available in the timeline below. Information on how to request a Contested Case is in the Public Notice. The deadline to request a Contested Case is October 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM PDT.

Lake County, approximately eight miles northwest of Christmas Valley. PDF Maps | Online Map
Applicant/Certificate holder: Obsidian Solar Center LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Obsidian Renewables LLC.
ODOE contact: Kathleen Sloan
Applicant/Certificate holder contact: Michelle Slater
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Project Amendment(s)

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Description
  
Preliminary Request for Amendment 1
04/12/2023
08/01/2023
08/01/2023
08/01/2023
09/26/2023
09/26/2023
Deadline to Request a Contested Case
10/27/2023

Project Timeline

  
Additional Documents
  
Notice of Intent
01/16/2018
05/24/2018
Complete Application for Site Certificate
10/30/2019
03/12/2020
02/25/2022
03/25/2022
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​Contact the Facility Siting Team:
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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