NEWS

PGE seeks approvals for large solar plant near Salem

Michael Rose
Statesman Journal

Portland General Electric has requested a zoning change for a proposed solar power generating site near Salem, which would be designed to produce more than 4 megawatts of electricity.

The "solar photovoltaic generating plant" would cover about half of a 52-acre property with solar cells, according to a land use application submitted to Marion County by PGE. The site would be located on PGE property south of Auburn Road NE and along Hampden Lane NE, immediately north of PGE's Bethel Power Sub-Station.

Steve Corson, a PGE spokesman, said the utility hasn't determined if it will proceed with building the solar power facility.

"It's in the early development stage as a concept," Corson said.

PGE has owned the vacant property in Marion County since the 1970s, he said. The land served as a buffer for the Bethel Power Plant, which was decommissioned in the mid-1990s.

Corson said the property is a good candidate for solar cells because it has ready access to the power grid from an on-site substation.

If PGE's board agrees to build the project, construction of the solar power plant could begin by the end of the year, and it could be producing electricity by summer 2015, Corson said.

The project also needs approvals from the Oregon Public Utility Commission and Marion County before it can proceed, he said.

Power generation isn't currently an allowed use on the PGE property in Marion County. The company has asked Marion County to change the Comprehensive Plan designation from Rural Residential to Public, as well as change the zoning from Acreage Residential to Public.

mrose@StatesmanJournal .com (503) 399-6657 or follow on Twitter @mrose_sj

Land use hearing

Portland General Electric is seeking a zone change and comprehensive plan change to allow it build a solar power facility in Marion County.

A hearing before a hearings' officer is 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, in the Senator Hearing Room at Courthouse Square, 555 Court St. NE in Salem.

Source: Marion County