Jefferson County is moving forward with plans to host a utility-scale battery energy storage project after county commissioners approved a site control agreement earlier this week, allowing the project’s development team to proceed with a formal feasibility study.
The agreement is a significant but preliminary step: it gives the project’s proponents the right to assess the site without binding the county to any final approval. County commissioners stressed that the action allows the study to proceed while the project undergoes further environmental and technical review.
What Battery Storage Means for Jefferson County
Utility-scale battery storage facilities are becoming increasingly common in Oregon as the state’s energy grid incorporates more wind and solar power. Because renewable generation is variable — solar panels produce electricity only when the sun shines, wind turbines only when the wind blows — large-scale batteries are used to store excess power and release it when demand is high or generation is low.
Jefferson County is already home to solar development, including a previously approved solar energy facility near Madras. A battery storage facility could pair with existing or future solar assets to create a more reliable and dispatchable source of clean energy for the regional grid.
The Deschutes Solar and Battery Energy Storage System, a proposed co-located solar and battery project, is also currently under review by the Oregon Department of Energy after a preliminary application was filed in January 2026.
County Leaders See Economic Opportunity
For Jefferson County, which has long sought to diversify its economic base beyond agriculture and government employment, large energy projects represent a potential source of tax revenue and construction jobs. Site control agreements like the one approved this week are standard first steps in project development — they establish a formal relationship between a developer and a landowner or governing body before the more intensive permitting process begins.
Commissioners have not released details about the specific developer involved or the proposed site location within the Madras area. Additional information is expected as the feasibility study progresses and the project moves toward a formal permit application.
Residents and stakeholders interested in the project can follow updates through the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners at jeffersoncountyor.gov.