A First of its Kind Powerful, Integrated Energy System

For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has provided reliable, affordable power to Oregon communities. Building on this legacy, PGE worked with NextEra Energy Resources to develop one of North America’s first large-scale energy facilities to combine diverse power generation and onsite storage at a single location. This approach enables a flexible, highly responsive resource capable of meeting customer demand across varying conditions.

Challenge

As Oregon’s energy needs evolve, PGE sought a way to add significant new capacity to the grid while maintaining system reliability, expanding the types of power sources, and managing costs for customers. Traditional projects often require separate facilities, which can introduce construction complexity, land-use challenges, and operational inefficiencies.

PGE needed a solution that could deliver dependable power output, optimize generation across different weather and seasonal patterns, and operate efficiently within the broader grid.

Solution

The Wheatridge Energy Facility combines 350 MW of power that can be delivered directly to the grid or stored onsite for later use. All assets are located at a single site in Morrow County, Oregon, providing enough energy to efficiently power approximately 100,000 Oregon homes.   

By integrating these technologies, the project provides: 

• Stronger system flexibility: Onsite storage helps balance energy output, enabling the facility to support reliability needs during peak demand or variable conditions.
• Efficient land and infrastructure use: A co-located design streamlines permitting, interconnection, and operations. 
• Consistent generation: Integrated sources allow the system to deliver steady power throughout the day and year

To optimize output, NextEra Energy Resources utilized its proprietary platform, NextEra 360®, to help PGE generate optimal performance schedules. Insights from NextEra 360® are essential for managing the energy produced by the Wheatridge project, allowing PGE to store power when available and dispatch it to customers when needed.

Result

The facility was developed through a collaborative effort between PGE, NextEra Energy Resources, county partners, and local landowners—balancing technological capability with community and regional economic benefits. 

With the Wheatridge facility in service, PGE gains a large, diversified energy resource capable of responding dynamically to Oregon’s energy needs. The integrated system delivers dependable output under a wide range of conditions, helping support grid stability and long-term resource planning. 

Beyond its operational strength, the project provides meaningful economic benefits for Morrow County, including local jobs, construction activity, and millions of dollars in tax revenue over the life of the project.

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