Amazon has moved closer to becoming the owner behind what could be the largest proposed solar and battery storage development in Oregon, a project that could eventually support growing electricity demand in the state’s east. The company won a high-profile bankruptcy auction with an $83 million bid and has since acquired the project site, but it still faces key state regulatory steps before construction can move forward.
The proposed development, known as the Sunstone Solar Project, is planned for private land in Morrow County. The solar portion is designed at 1,200 megawatts, paired with up to 7,200 megawatts of battery storage capacity. On high-output days, the solar array could generate enough electricity to power about 300,000 average households, based on the project’s stated expectations.
Bankruptcy Sale Put the Project in Play
Sunstone was originally proposed by Pine Gate Renewables, a North Carolina-based developer that started siting and permitting work in Oregon in May 2022. In November 2024, the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council issued a site certificate for the project, advancing it through one of the state’s major approvals for large energy facilities.
But Pine Gate later filed for bankruptcy, pointing to project delays and cost overruns. The bankruptcy auction drew attention because Amazon outbid regional utility interest. One competing bidder, Puget Sound Energy, exited after bidding $82 million.
Regulatory Transfer Is the Next Hurdle
Even with the acquisition, Amazon cannot proceed unless state regulators approve a transfer of the project’s site certificate. The Oregon Department of Energy has said it has been in contact with the developer about the transfer process since the bankruptcy filing period. Under the process described by state officials, the current certificate holder and the prospective new owner would need to file a joint request for a transfer, which would then be reviewed and approved by the siting council.
State officials have indicated that a transfer review could take roughly three to six months. Regulators have also stressed that ownership alone does not change the state’s requirements. Any new owner would need to comply with the existing certificate conditions, and the entity currently holding the certificate remains the only one authorized to build until a transfer is formally approved.
Tax Credit Timing and a Construction Deadline
The timeline may be shaped by shifting federal renewable energy incentives. Changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1) tightened deadlines around how developers qualify for solar and wind tax credits, which can represent a significant portion of total project costs for large-scale builds. With shorter windows and higher pressure to hit milestones, financing and scheduling can become more difficult for projects that are not already moving smoothly.
Oregon’s siting certificate also comes with a key time constraint. State officials have said construction must begin by November 18, 2027, or the certificate expires, effectively ending the current approval.
Amazon has not publicly detailed how it plans to use the power from the project if it clears the remaining approvals. The company already has multiple large data center developments in Morrow County, but state siting officials have noted that end users of generated power are not typically part of the council’s evaluation process.
