SAY NO TO THE DESCHUTES RIVER SOLAR PROJECT
Stop the massive BrightNight solar facility
SAY NO TO THE DESCHUTES RIVER SOLAR PROJECT
Stop the massive BrightNight solar facility
Protect our land, homes, wildlife and rivers...
WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME. HERE'S WHY:
BrightNight Solar is proposing a 25 sq. mile solar facility on Juniper Flat surrounding many homes and farms. We believe in renewable energy, but this project is too big and will damage the delicate ecoosytem and bring lasting devastation to the region and its scenic lands.
- TOO BIG - we think of it as massive. It starts just east of Pine Grove and ends about 6 miles down the road as far as the eye can see on both sides of hwy 216. That's huge.
- THREAT TO WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION: The project is sited less than ¼ mile from White River, designated a Wild and Scenic River-a status meant to protect its natural character. Industrial-scale solar development in this location undermines the intent of federal protections for rivers and riparian ecosystems
- HARM TO WILDLIFE AND HABITAT: The area provides habitat for deer, elk, raptors, and other sensitive and endangered species. Habitat fragmentation from over 55 miles of fencing, noise, and industrial disturbance will permanently alter local ecosystems.Grading will reduce wildlife habitat.
- FIRE DANGER: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) which include lithium-ion batteries have been linked to thermal runaway fires across the country. Placing this technology in a dry, high-wind wildfire-prone region puts nearby residents, farmland, and public lands at risk.
- LOSS OF AGRICULTURE AND SCENIC LAND: Prime farmland and open range are being converted to industrial use. Once installed, solar infrastructure and battery systems degrade the rural landscape, impacting tourism, agriculture, and property values.
- NO REQUIRED SETBACKS FROM HOMES: Wasco County does not currently require setbacks for solar farms next to residences. Residents may find industrial infrastructure built right up to their property lines without recourse. More than 25 homes and small farms will be encapsulated or border the project.
- OUT OF STATE DEVOLOPERS = LOCALL CONSEQUENCES: Profits go out of state, while locals bear the environmental and visual costs for decades.
- INADEQUATE LOCAL OVERSIGHT: Large-scale energy projects bypass local planning through state-level siting with limited local input. We need stronger county-level rules to protect Wasco County's rural way of life.
- INCREASE ENERGY COSTS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS: Wasco County residents will pay higher utility costs from the upgrade of the power grid to accommodate the improvement needed to carry the energy to the valley.
- WATER CONTAMINATION: Juniper Flat is a watershed to the Deschutes and White Rivers. Possible contaminants from the installation and infrastructure could compromise groundwater wells, irrigation water, and river water.
What You Can Do:
Email the Wasco County
Commissioners:
Attend our monthly meetings to learn how you can help.