Frequently Asked Questions

The Saddle Butte Energy Facility (Project) is a proposed utility-scale wind project harnessing renewable energy in Gilliam County. The project would be built within an area spanning roughly 12,000 acres and is expected to generate up to 488 MW of power, with the potential addition of a battery energy storage system (BESS) to improve regional grid reliability and flexibility. The project is being developed by Brookfield Renewable N.A., a global leader in clean energy investments.

Wind energy works by converting the natural movement of air into electricity. Wind turbines capture the energy of the wind with large blades that spin a rotor. This rotor turns a generator, which produces renewable electricity.

BESS works by storing electricity generated by an energy resource for later delivery when regional energy demands are high or energy generation supply has dropped. Modern BESS technology provides great benefit by increasing grid resiliency and helping deliver energy to residents, businesses, and essential services when it is needed most.

With wide open spaces and lots of wind, this region offers many benefits and is ideal for wind projects. More specifically, this project location is adjacent to an existing transmission line, which is critical for connecting renewable energy to the power grid and servicers.

Brookfield currently owns and operates the Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm in Arlington, Oregon and Goose Prairie Solar Project in Yakima County, Washington. In addition to Saddle Butte, Brookfield is developing two other renewable projects in Oregon. Brookfield Renewable has deep experience in the industry, with 8+GW of operating renewable energy facilities in the US and a deep development pipeline.

Electricity produced by the project will enter the grid through a nearby Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) substation and be used throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Brookfield is conducting an economic impact study and will share the findings with the community on this website as soon as the report is available.

The Project will require a range of skilled workers, including electricians, ironworkers and laborers. The project intends to use union labor. Specific labor arrangements will be determined as the project moves closer to construction and when a general contractor (EPC) is selected. 

Regardless of the final approach, the project will comply with all applicable state and federal labor laws. EFSC also reviews the project’s socioeconomic impacts as part of the permitting process, including employment and workforce considerations during construction and operations.

The land where this project will be developed is owned by local private landowners and is leased to Brookfield under long-term agreements.

We aim to be good neighbors in every community that we operate in, and we have the track record to show it, including in Oregon. We began community engagement for this project well before our Notice of Intent was filed — and will continue engaging with the Gilliam County community, including meeting with local leaders,  holding public meetings, and sharing project information online.

If you have a question about the project, please reach out to the team any time:

Ben Mallernee

Sr. Manager, Asset Development

saddlebutteenergy@brookfieldrenewable.com

1-646-992-2369

Yes. Oregon has set bold goals around siting new renewable energy projects. Growing electricity demand across the region makes these investments even more critical. The Saddle Butte Energy Facility will help meet that rising demand while advancing the state’s clean-energy goals. Projects like this also help to diversify Gilliam County’s local economy.

Agricultural and grazing activities will be able to continue around the installed wind turbines, BESS, and substation(s).

A cultural assessment is currently being performed, with field surveys completed across the site in Fall 2025, to better understand the existing conditions and the interface with the proposed project. We have reached out to local Tribes and some have engaged and participated in completed surveys. The project will be designed to minimize any impacts to cultural resources through continued Tribal outreach.

The Project lands have been used for cattle grazing and farming for a long time. There are some state listed and candidate species in the Project area.

The Project Applicant is commissioning field surveys for these species in coordination with ODFW and using survey methods approved by ODFW. A small portion of the Project is within modeled big game winter range. In all cases the Applicant will design and build the project to avoid, minimize and if necessary, mitigate impacts to wildlife resources.

Wind turbines generate a low level of sound during operation, but projects are carefully designed to minimize noise impacts on surrounding areas. Battery energy storage systems also produce minimal noise, typically limited to fans, HVAC systems, and transformers comparable to the sound levels of standard commercial buildings. 

In the project area, there are very few non-participating residences, and the project’s landowners are familiar with the sound profile of modern wind turbines from nearby wind projects. As part of the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) process, a comprehensive noise analysis will be conducted to ensure the Project meets all applicable state noise standards. We are also committed to working closely with the community to minimize construction-related noise as much as possible.

Once the project is complete, traffic in and out of the facility will be very minimal. And while this project will entail construction traffic, we will work with the county and local transportation experts to ensure that the flow of traffic is efficient and maintained.

A typical lifespan of a wind farm is approximately 30 years. After this point, wind turbines can be overhauled or replaced to extend the life of the facility and continue generating renewable power.

Homes are always the first priority to protect in the event of a wildfire. Emergency response plans will be put in place to address wildfire risks and ensure the safety of the project and surrounding areas, and we will be working with emergency management in the area on an ongoing basis. The project will incorporate access routes for emergency vehicles, while coordinating directly with local fire departments and first responders to ensure their feedback is reflected in the final project design and response protocols.

Unless the facility is overhauled or repowered, it will be decommissioned. Under EFSC, every wind, solar, or battery storage project must comply with the Council’s standard for Retirement and Financial Assurance (OAR 345-022-0050). This rule requires:

• A mandatory decommissioning plan submitted as part of the site certificate, describing how equipment will be removed, how the site will be restored, and how materials will be recycled or disposed of.

• A bond or equivalent financial assurance that the project must post before construction begins. This bond covers the full cost of decommissioning and cannot be released until the State verifies that all decommissioning work has been completed.

• Restoration of the site to a useful, non-hazardous condition that is compatible with farming, grazing, or other land uses.

These requirements apply regardless of company ownership or market conditions. The project will meet all EFSC decommissioning obligations and will post the required bond as part of the permitting process.

We welcome your input, questions, and concerns any time. We will ensure that the community is aware of any opportunity to engage with the project team throughout the process — and you should feel free to reach out to us any time:

Ben Mallernee

Sr. Manager, Asset Development

saddlebutteenergy@brookfieldrenewable.com

1-646-992-2369