| The Latest Updates |
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Approved Facilities Under Construction:
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Big River Energy Facility
– Notice of Intent
The Department accepted comments on the NOI through September 25, 2026, and is continuing to coordinate with reviewing agencies to help inform the requirements to be included in the Project Order. The Project Order will be issued in October 2026. |
Boardman Coal Plant – Review of Termination Request The Department received a concurrence letter from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality confirming that results of groundwater monitoring at the site were adequate. The Department will present its recommendations to Council for concurrence, modification, or rejection to terminate the site certificate, at the November meeting. |
Buckley Solar Facility – Notice of Intent
The pASC must be submitted by August 17, 2027. |
Carty Generating Station –
preliminary Request for Amendment #4 The Department has reinitiated review of pRFA and coordination with reviewing agencies. The Department expects to receive requested information, determine the pRFA complete, and issue a Proposed Order on Request for Site Certificate Amendment 4 in October. |
Cascade Renewable Transmission System – Preliminary Application for Site Certificate (pASC) The Department is drafting the Draft Proposed Order and coordinating with reviewing agencies on review of the pASC. Completeness review will continue through Q4 2026. |
Deschutes Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Facility – Preliminary Application for Site Certificate (pASC) The Department is drafting the Draft Proposed Order and coordinating with reviewing agencies on review of the pASC. Completeness review will continue through Q4 2026. |
Heppner Wind Project – Notice of Intent The preliminary Application for Site Certificate must be submitted by March 27, 2027. |
Klamath Cogeneration Project preliminary Request for Amendment #6 – Proposed Order The comment period on RFA6 and the Proposed Order on RFA6 closed on August 28, 2026. The Department and the certificate holder provided responses to comments on September 2 and August 28, 2026, respectively. The Department anticipates issuing the draft Final Order and Notice of Draft Final Order, evaluating the issues raised during the comment period in November 2026. |
Klamath Falls Energy Center – Notice of Intent
The preliminary Application for Site Certificate must be submitted by December 2027. |
Muddy Creek Energy Park – preliminary Application for Site Certificate (pASC) The Department is drafting the Draft Proposed Order and coordinating with reviewing agencies on review of the pASC. Completeness review will continue through Q4 2026.
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Nolin Hills Wind Power Project – preliminary Request for Amendment #1 (on Hold)
The certificate holder requested until January 2027 to response to the Department’s data request. The Department has agreed to put the amendment on hold until the certificate holder is able to respond to its data request. |
Oregon Trail Solar Facility –
preliminary Request for Amendment #2
At its September 18, 2026 meeting, Council reviewed and approved the draft Final Order as the Final Order on Request for Site Certificate Amendment 2 and granted issuance of a Second Amended Site Certificate for Oregon Trail Solar Facility and a new site certificate for Shutler Battery Energy Storage Facility. In October 2026, the Department will issue the Final Order and amended site certificate and will post the materials on its project webpage.
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Saddle Butte Energy Facility – Notice of Intent
The preliminary Application for Site Certificate must be submitted by December 2027. |
Speedway Energy Facility – Notice of Intent The Department issued its determination that the pASC was incomplete on September 17, 2026. The Department requested that the certificate holder respond to its data request by November 17, 2026.
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Sunrise Solar and Storage Projects – Notice of Intent The preliminary Application for Site Certificate must be submitted by February 27, 2027.
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Umatilla-Morrow County Connect Project – Preliminary Application for Site Certificate (pASC) (Review on Hold)
Review of the pASC is on hold, pending the applicant’s evaluation of an additional alternative transmission line route, under review to determine if there is an alternative route with lessor impacts.The Department expects to receive updated information from the applicant in October 2026.
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| Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility East Request for Amendment #2 – Proposed Order
On September 16, 2026, the certificate holder filed its sur-reply to issues raised in comments received during the comment period. On September 2 and 10, 2026, the Department conducted onsite inspections to further evaluate issues raised in comments received. The Department anticipates issuing the draft Final Order and Notice of Draft Final Order, evaluating the issues raised during the comment period in November 2026. |
Yellow Rosebush Energy Center
– Final Order At its September 18, 2026 meeting, Council continued its review of exceptions and responses to the Proposed Contested Case Order and conducted a material change hearing where parties to the contested case were provided an opportunity to comment on changes to Fish and Wildlife Condition 8 and associated findings proposed to address specific exceptions. Following review and deliberation, Council approved the Proposed Order and Proposed Contested Case Order, with modifications, as the Final Order approving the project and granted issuance of a Site Certificate.
On October 1, 2026, the Department served the Final Order to the parties and posted the materials on its project webpage. The Site Certificate requires that construction commence by September 18, 2032.
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Rulemaking - Compliance Rulemaking The comment period concluded on September 25, 2026. Staff will now review all comments submitted and make final recommendations to Council, likely at its November 19-20, 2026 meeting.
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Rulemaking - Financial Expertise and Retirement Assurance Staff is reviewing feedback submitted by Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) members. Draft rules are being prepared for RAC members to review. The decision on whether or not to hold a fourth RAC meeting is pending. |
Rulemaking - Carbon Monetary Offset
The comment period concluded on September 25, 2026. Staff will now review all comments submitted and make final recommendations to Council, likely at its November 19-20, 2026 meeting.
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