Oregon-based utility company Portland General Electric (PGE) has finalised agreements for more than 1,000MW of new renewable energy and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the US state.
These projects were procured through PGE’s 2023 all-source request for proposals (RFP), power purchase agreement (PPA) procurements, and the 2025 RFP. The utility said it represents the largest renewables acquisition in its history.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) supervises these processes with the intended goal of all bids being assessed in a fair, impartial, and transparent manner.
Following the completion of contract negotiations, PGE and third-party developers will initiate construction planning for new renewables and BESS projects totalling 1015MW, with 42% utility-owned and 58% under PPAs. These resources are projected to start serving customers in 2027 and 2028.
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| Name | Location | Capacity | Target operation date | Ownership |
| Biglow Optimisation | Sherman County, Oregon | 125MW solar PV, 125MW BESS | Late 2027 | PGE-owned; approximately US$540 million investment |
| Wheatridge Expansion | Morrow County, Oregon | 240MW solar PV, 125MW BESS | Late 2027 | Joint-ownership with a third-party; PGE owns 110MW of solar, 65MW of storage. Approximately US$490 million investment |
| Meadowlark Battery | Washington County, Oregon | 200MW BESS | Late 2027, pending OPUC approval | Third-party owned, PGE to serve customers through long-term PPA. |
| Nottingham Battery | Washington County, Oregon | 200MW BESS | 2028, pending OPUC approval | Third-party owned; PGE to serve customers through a long-term PPA |
The projects collectively represent 650MW of energy storage and 365MW of solar PV capacity. Biglow and Wheatridge are advancing into development using existing transmission and interconnection infrastructure to reduce costs.
The initial Wheatridge project was announced in 2019 with a 200MW wind park, 50MW solar farm, and 30MW of BESS.
PGE has provided the final shortlist for its 2025 all-source RFP, featuring 12 non-emitting projects, including wind, solar, and battery storage, utilising both PPAs and utility ownership models. The company aims to finalise agreements by the end of Q3 2026 for roughly 2,500MW of additional renewables and storage, with these projects expected to be operational in 2028 and 2029.
In December 2025, OPUC approved a “price refresh” related to three BESS projects procured as part of the cumulative 1,000MW.
At that time, John McFarland, VP chief commercial and customer officer of PGE, said the pricing amendments were needed to “reflect current economics, tariff risks, evolving tax credit opportunities and deliver value for customers.”
Although PGE started contract negotiations with selected projects, the utility requested a “critical and immediate” price update in October 2025, citing significant and systematic changes in federal tax and tariff policies.
It highlighted foreign entity of concern (FEOC) restrictions on procurement for solar and storage projects, seeking the investment tax credit.
PGE received seven updated bids from developers capable of fulfilling the RFP requirements. Four bids were for standalone BESS, while three combined solar with energy storage. Analysing these updated bids, PGE observed a 64.6% rise in the average capacity cost, increasing from US$144/kW-year to US$237/kW-year, reflecting the effects of federal policy changes.
In August 2025, PGE completed three BESS projects in Portland, Oregon, totalling more than 1.9GWh. The 2023 procurement included the 200MW Seaside, 200MW Sundial, and 75MW Constable projects.
Energy Storage Summit USA will be held from 24-25 March 2026, in Dallas, TX. It features keynote speeches and panel discussions on topics like FEOC challenges, power demand forecasting, and managing the BESS supply chain. ESN Premium subscribers can get an exclusive discount on ticket prices. For complete information, visit the Energy Storage Summit USA website.
