Customer Participation in PGE's Green Future Impact Program Catalyzes New Renewable Energy Facility

Intel Corp. enabled PGE agreement with Avangrid Renewables to add 138-megawatts of new renewable energy, filling program’s original capacity.
Feb 12, 2021 10:05 AM ET

Originally published by PGE

PORTLAND, Ore., February 12, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR) today announced that Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) has joined PGE’s Green FutureSM Impact program. Intel’s participation is enabling PGE to enter into a 15-year agreement with Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE:AGR), to purchase clean, emissions-free energy from a new 138-megawatt solar facility that will be developed in Wasco County, Oregon. Intel’s purchase is the single largest in PGE’s program; the company joins 17 other businesses and municipalities that have committed to purchase clean power through the Green Future Impact program, filling the program’s original 300-megawatt capacity.

Intel signed a 15-year agreement with PGE to enable the development of this additional new solar facility, which it is naming Daybreak Solar. It will produce a significant portion of the energy needed to power Intel’s advanced technology development and manufacturing facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon. Intel will be the only purchaser of power from this new facility and as part of the agreement, will also purchase and retire the associated renewable energy credits from Avangrid Renewables to improve the quality of its 100% renewable U.S. energy supply. Since 2004, Intel has been the largest purchaser of PGE’s Green Future Enterprise (formerly Clean Wind) product.

“Intel is excited to facilitate the construction of this new solar facility and provide our Oregon facilities with locally-based renewable energy,” said Marty Sedler, director of Global Utilities and Infrastructure for Intel Corp. “We are proud to extend our commitment to sustainability and to advancing Oregon’s economy.”

Avangrid Renewables will develop the 138-megawatt project in Wasco County, Oregon on 1,100 acres of privately owned land. During peak construction, it will create an estimated 150 to 200 jobs in partnership with local unions. When the facility begins operating in 2022, it will produce enough power to serve the equivalent of over 32,000 homes. It will benefit the local economy for years to come by generating an estimated $30 million of taxes and property owner lease payments over the life of the project.

“We are pleased to again partner with PGE as we continue to meet the growing clean energy demand of forward-thinking commercial customers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Holly Carias, vice president of origination for Avangrid Renewables. “This project represents an important step forward in the region’s clean energy transition.”

PGE’s agreement with Avangrid Renewables marks the second local renewable energy project made possible by Green Future Impact customers. In 2020, PGE and Avangrid Renewables announced the development of a 162-megawatt solar facility – the largest in Oregon – to meet the needs of 17 Green Future Impact subscribers. That project is expected to come online in late 2021.

“PGE is excited to work with Intel to enable their ambitious sustainability and climate goals through our Green Future Impact program,” said PGE vice president and Chief Customer Officer John McFarland. “Partnerships like this strengthen Oregon’s economy and also help advance PGE’s goal to reduce the emissions associated with the power we serve to customers by at least 80% by 2030. We look forward to working with Intel and Avangrid Renewables for years to come.”

PGE has requested approval from the Oregon Public Utility Commission to add 200 megawatts of installed renewables to the program to meet customer demand. More information about participating in Green Future Impact is available at www.portlandgeneral.com/greenfutureimpact.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16 generation plants across Oregon and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2020, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.6 million and volunteered 18,200 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/news.

About Avangrid Renewables

Avangrid Renewables, LLC is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. It is a leading renewable energy company in the United States, owning and operating 7.3 gigawatts of installed renewable energy capacity, primarily using wind power, with a presence in 22 U.S. states. IBERDROLA, S.A., is an energy pioneer with one of the largest renewable asset bases of any company in the world. Avangrid Renewables is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit avangridrenewables.com.

About AVANGRID, Inc

AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $34 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, events and the like may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the company’s future energy mix; statements concerning the company’s integration of smart-grid technologies and renewable energy into the grid; statements regarding acquisition, construction, completion, and operation of generating and battery storage facilities; as well as other statements containing words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “promises,” “expects,” “should,” “conditioned upon,” “will,” “would,” “could” and similar expressions. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including construction and operational risks relating to the generation and battery storage facilities, including wind conditions and unscheduled delays or plant outages, which may result in unanticipated operating, maintenance and repair costs, as well as replacement power costs; the costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations, including changes in weather, hydroelectric and energy markets conditions, which could affect the availability and cost of purchased power and fuel; changes in capital market conditions, which could affect the availability and cost of capital and result in delay or cancellation of capital projects; failure to complete capital projects on schedule or within budget, failure of the counterparty to perform under the agreements, or the abandonment of capital projects, which could result in the company’s inability to recover project costs; the outcome of various legal and regulatory proceedings; and general economic and financial market conditions. As a result, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the company on the date hereof and such statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also review the risks and uncertainties listed in the company’s most recent annual report on form 10-K and the company’s reports on forms 8-K and 10-Q filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and the risks described therein from time to time.

For more information contact:

Andrea Platt, PGE
503-464-7019
Andrea.Platt@pgn.com

For more information contact:

Morgan Pitts, Avangrid Renewables
503-933-8907
Morgan.Pitts@avangrid.com