Project Overview

The Sunstone Solar Project is a planned 1.2 GW (1,200 MW) solar photovoltaic farm, along with 1.2 GW of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Located in Morrow County, Oregon, the facility is the largest solar and battery storage project ever approved in Oregon and one of the largest solar farms in the United States.

The project received its site certificate from the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council in November 2024, but its original developer, Pine Gate Renewables, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy exactly one year later. 

In January 2026, Amazon acquired the project for USD 83 million through a court-supervised bankruptcy auction, outbidding Seattle-based Puget Sound Energy. The US Bankruptcy Court approved the acquisition for the Southern District of Texas. 

Amazon will work with Gallatin Power Partners, the project's original developer, to manage the remaining development phases. As of May 2026, Amazon must complete a formal site certificate transfer with the Oregon EFSC, a process estimated at three to six months, before it can begin construction. The site certificate expires if construction has not begun by 18 November 2027, making the transfer a time-critical regulatory step. 

Sunstone Solar Project Completion Date

The project is designed to be built in six phases of 200 MW each, with each phase taking approximately 21 months. Phase 1 is targeted for completion by November 2027. The full 1.2 GW build-out, if pursued, could take up to a decade.

Sunstone Solar Project Location

The Sunstone Solar Project is located in Morrow County, Oregon, United States, in eastern Oregon. It is described as being approximately 15 miles northeast of Lexington, Oregon, on private land.

Technical Specifications

Project Background

The Sunstone Solar Project began as the Echo Solar Project with Gallatin Power Partners, which secured land agreements and preliminary permits for the site before selling to Pine Gate Renewables in 2022.

Pine Gate Renewables, founded in 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina, acquired Sunstone from Gallatin Power Partners in 2022 and launched the Oregon EFSC siting and permitting process in May 2022.

Oregon's restrictions on solar siting on high-value farmland required Pine Gate to demonstrate economic benefits and establish an agricultural mitigation fund, which emerged collaboratively from engagement with Morrow County and dryland wheat farming groups. The EFSC approved the final order for the site certificate at its 14 November 2024 meeting. 

Within months of receiving the site certificate, Pine Gate Renewables was in financial difficulty. The company had a complex capital structure built for a high-liquidity market: more than USD 7 billion in funded capital but less than USD 10 million in cash. 

In November 2025, Pine Gate filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas, citing USD 600 million in debt. Preconstruction compliance review for Sunstone, initiated in August 2025, was placed on hold. 

The bankruptcy triggered an auction for Pine Gate's largest standalone asset. Amazon, struggling with power supply for its Morrow County data centers, submitted a winning bid of USD 83 million, just USD 1 million above Seattle-based Puget Sound Energy's final offer of USD 82 million. The bankruptcy court approved the acquisition in January 2026. The deal closed by approximately February 28, 2026, transferring all permits and site control to Amazon's subsidiary, Oregon Solar I.

Sunstone Solar Project Current Status

As of May 2026, the Sunstone Solar Project in Oregon is in the pre‑construction / early construction phase, with financial and ownership arrangements finalized and site‑ready permitting already in place. 

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 in phases, following engineering and procurement work; there is no public indication yet that physical construction has already started beyond site preparation.

Stakeholders Details

Pine Gate Renewables Bankruptcy - Background

Six Phases of Sunstone Solar Project

Sunstone Solar Project Cost

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the Sunstone Solar Project:

• Grid Interconnection: Interconnection via Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s network into the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) regional grid.
  

• Supply Clean Electricity: The project intends to supply clean electricity to a large regional customer base, with Amazon Energy now the owner/lead off‑taker following the acquisition of the project.
  

• Infrastructure Facility: It comprises a 1,200 MW solar PV array spread across multiple fields, with collector substations, O&M buildings, fencing, roads, and gates.
  

• Substations: The Sunstone Solar Project includes an interconnection substation and collector substations to aggregate and step‑up output, plus around 9.5 miles of 230‑kV overhead transmission lines to connect to the host grid system.
  

• Contribute to Decarbonization Targets: Intended to significantly contribute to Oregon’s clean‑energy and decarbonization targets, effectively doubling or approaching the state’s existing solar capacity when fully operational.

Project Timeline

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project: 

• Produce Clean Energy: The Sunstone Solar Farm project produces up to 1,200 MW of clean energy, enough to supply approximately 800,000 homes annually.
  

• Storage Support: With a 1,200 MW BESS capacity, it helps smooth solar intermittency and support peak‑demand periods.
  

• Improves Grid Stability: The project improves the overall grid stability & resilience in the Bonneville Power Administration region. 
  

• Environmental Benefits: By avoiding ongoing air‑quality impacts from fossil‑fuel plants, it contributes to cleaner air and a healthier environment.
  

• Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil‑fuel generation, helping Oregon meet its carbon‑free‑electricity‑by‑2040 and interim emissions‑reduction targets.

Conclusion

The Sunstone Solar Project is a 1.2 GW Solar PV & a 1.2 GW BESS project, located in Morrow County, Oregon. The Sunstone Solar Project represents a major step forward in Oregon’s transition to a clean, reliable, and resilient energy system.

The facility is the largest solar and battery storage project in Oregon, supporting grid stability and helping the state meet its ambitious 2040 zero‑emission electricity target.

The project also creates meaningful socioeconomic benefits for Morrow County, including construction and O&M jobs, local tax revenue, and targeted support for local agriculture through a dedicated fund. 

Sunstone sets a precedent for integrating utility‑scale renewables with rural land use and long‑term climate goals, positioning Oregon as a leader in modern, decarbonized power infrastructure. 

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