A major renewable energy project proposed for the Warm Springs Reservation moved forward this week after receiving project assessment approval from the Warm Springs Branch of Natural Resources. A community meeting on the proposal was held Saturday, May 23 at the Agency Longhouse.
About the Project
The Salmonfly Solar and Energy Storage Project is a 250-megawatt utility-scale solar and battery energy storage development being built through a partnership between BrightNight — a clean energy developer — and Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises, the Tribe's energy and utility arm.
The facility would be located on the Metolius Bench and would utilize tribal transmission infrastructure to balance energy flows. Developer Andrew Fernandez noted the project leverages existing surplus capacity from the Tribe's hydroelectric co-ownership.
"Collaborating with tribal experts for two years, the company has addressed cultural and natural resource protections," according to information released through KWSO, the Tribe's radio station. The project promises economic benefits including jobs, lease revenue, and support for educational programs on the reservation.
Community Update This Weekend
Following Tribal Council review of the project assessment approval, BrightNight hosted a membership project update and discussion at the Agency Longhouse on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meeting included lunch and was open to tribal members.
The community gathering gave residents a chance to ask questions and share feedback ahead of any further decisions on the project moving forward.
Context: Clean Energy on the Reservation
Warm Springs has long generated hydroelectric power through its co-ownership of the Pelton-Round Butte hydroelectric complex on the Deschutes River. A major solar-plus-storage project would represent a significant expansion of the Tribe's renewable energy portfolio and a new source of long-term economic revenue.
The Tribe had earlier received a $1 million federal grant to install a floating solar photovoltaic system as a separate initiative. The Salmonfly project, at 250 megawatts, would be considerably larger — potentially one of the most significant economic development projects in the Tribe's recent history.
The project assessment approval from the Branch of Natural Resources is one step in a multi-stage review process. Tribal Council and community input will continue to shape what comes next.