Portland, Oregon – January 15, 2025 – PNGC Power (Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative) is pleased to announce a $78.9 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture and the Rural Utility Services Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program to invest in new renewable electric generating resources in the rural communities of Crook and Jefferson Counties, Oregon.
This funding will enable the development of 240 megawatts of new renewable solar projects and associated battery storage. This is enough energy to power over 192,000 households annually, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to operating 92,000 gasoline-powered cars each year. This power will be distributed to PNGC Power’s 25 cooperative utilities located in 7 states.
“PNGC Power’s mission is to enable its 25 cooperative members to meet the growing energy needs of their communities, which includes integrating diverse renewable energy into our energy portfolio. These projects located in Central Oregon are the first step in this future," said Jessica Matlock, President and CEO of PNGC Power. "These solar energy and battery power projects demonstrate our leading role in enhancing energy reliability, resiliency, clean energy, and affordability for our members across seven western states. This funding supports PNGC Power’s ability to develop energy solutions and deliver stable rates in a fluctuating and constrained energy market.”
PNGC Power is the largest preference power customer of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). With a membership that spans over 431,000 meters across seven western states, PNGC Power continues to experience significant growth.
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About PNGC Power
PNGC Power is an Oregon-based electric generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative owned by 25 Northwest electric distribution cooperative utilities with service territory in seven western states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming). The cooperative creates value for its member systems by providing power supply, transmission, and other management services. PNGC Power is an aggregator of geographically diverse loads in the region and became the first electric cooperative in the country to receive a power marketing license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. More information about PNGC Power can be found at www.pngcpower.com.