Submitted photo

The solar farm known as Starvation 1, west of Hines, is now energized and capable of producing 10-MW of power.

Some people look at the vast landscape of Harney County and see only the wide-open spaces. Others, like Jake Stephens, look at the land and see opportunity.

Stephens started his company, NewSun Energy, in Arizona in 2015, and began looking for places in the Western United States to establish solar facilities. His search led him to Oregon, where he looked into solar farm development possibilities. After several months of research and development, Stephens made plans to site several solar farms in Eastern Oregon. He then moved to Bend in 2017. Stephens noted that 10 contracts were originally signed, but eight of the projects made it to the finish line, including two sites each in Harney and Lake counties.

Local sites

Each of the two sites in Harney County host a pair of 10-MW facilities that will transmit electricity on the Bonneville Power Administration’s transmission system to Portland General Electric (PGE). One of the sites is located a few miles west of Hines. The other is several miles west of Riley. The two farms near Hines, known as Starvation 1 and West Hines, have been energized and are producing power. The other sites are still works in progress, with the hope of them coming on line this summer.

Stephens said each project takes about three to four years to complete, as they have to work through the process with county and state governments and agencies, put together financing, procure the proper permits, conduct cultural and wetland investigations, and line up construction and supply lines.

As the project progressed, Stephens brought Brent Beverly, former operations manager for Harney Electric, on board. Beverly helped oversee the local projects, conducting a lot of the legwork, and provided years of knowledge and experience.

Beverly admitted that the project presented a bit of learning curve, but he was eager to help. On a visit to the Starvation 1/West Hines site, Beverly explained how wetlands had to be figured into the equation, as well as historic Native American sites, and pointed out the transmission line that was built from the farm and across the highway to move the energy.

He said the project has a number of stages moving forward, and if there is a glitch along the way, it can hamper progress. That includes transporting materials, getting crews on site, and working with landowners.

The farms

Each solar farm requires about 40,000 solar panels to produce the 10-MW of power. The panels are placed in rows that rotate with the sun as it goes from east to west each day. When the sun goes down, the panels reset themselves facing east, awaiting the sun’s rays the following morning. Each of the panels is also monitored on a regular basis to make sure the farm is producing its maximum energy.

Stephens said that, during the construction phase of the project, more than 100 jobs were created, many of them filled by local workers, with more than 70,000 hours worked. A direct economic benefit to the county came from truckers, supply chains, and contractors, as well as property taxes to the county. The county will receive $70,000 per year, per farm for 20 years for a total of $280,000 for the four Harney County sites. Harney County Judge Pete Runnels stated that the funds will be dispersed within the taxing district where the property is located. He added that the county will receive $140,000 this fiscal year for the two farms currently in operation, and an additional $140,000 each year once the farms near Riley are energized.

Local support

Stephens, who has 15 years experience in the solar energy industry, expressed his thanks for the overwhelming support from Judge Runnels, former Harney County Judge Steve Grasty, Brandon McMullen of the county planning department, and many other locals. He added that Beverly’s help was invaluable on the projects.

NewSun Energy has already been giving back to the community by purchasing new uniforms for Burns and Crane girls basketball teams, funding three $1,000 scholarships through the Harney County CattleWomen, and spending $10,000 to $15,000 for the past four years purchasing 4-H/FFA animals during the county fair.

As the country continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, work continues on the solar farms. After all, the sun will come up tomorrow.