Published 5:35 am Friday, February 20, 2026
By Michael Kohn
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are reviewing proposals for large-scale solar energy developments that could span thousands of acres on the Warm Springs Reservation, including land once considered for a racetrack.
Austin Smith Jr., general manager of the tribe’s natural resources branch, said multiple developers have approached the tribe about building solar facilities on reservation parcels. Smith also chairs the tribe’s resource identification team, which evaluates projects under its Integrated Resource Management Plan.
Expanding solar production on the reservation could provide a new source of long-term revenue for the tribes while also contributing carbon-free electricity to the regional grid, helping Oregon meet its climate goals and greenhouse gas reduction targets. Yet solar projects have other environmental concerns, ranging from viewshed changes to industrial development.
One project currently under review would cover about 2,200 acres. The proposal is in a 30-day evaluation period, during which tribal environmental staff are assessing soil conditions, available sunlight and potential impacts to grazing lands, agriculture and traditional food-gathering areas.
“It’s being evaluated if it’s feasible based off of the soil conditions, the amount of sunshine in these areas, damage and mitigation opportunities to livestock grazing, to agriculture, to first foods in the area,” Smith said.
A separate developer has conducted a preliminary geographic information system analysis for a larger solar installation that could range from 8,000 to 10,000 acres. That project has not yet undergone a full site evaluation.
The larger proposal is partly driven by access to major transmission infrastructure, including lines operated by the Bonneville Power Administration and Portland General Electric that cross the reservation. Interconnection to high-voltage lines is a key factor in determining whether utility-scale solar projects are financially feasible.
The tribe has been exploring multiple avenues for developing solar energy. In early 2025, it was awarded $248,000 in federal funding for solar projects on reservation land to pay for geotechnical engineering services required to advance development. In 2024, the tribes also announced they were in talks with Florida-based BrightNight to build a 250-megawatt solar farm on the reservation. If built, the project would be among the largest in Oregon.
One potential solar location under consideration includes land previously proposed as the site of a car racetrack more than a decade ago. The racetrack plan was rejected after concerns that it would cause excessive damage to rangeland. The area, located on open flats near Mill Creek off Highway 26, is now being evaluated as a possible site for solar development.
Smith said environmental services staff and resource managers are continuing to study the proposals to determine whether they align with the tribe’s long-term land management priorities. No final decisions have been made.
Michael Kohn has been public lands and environment reporter with The Bulletin since 2019. He enjoys hiking in the hills and forests near Bend with his family and exploring the state of Oregon.
He can be reached at: 541-617-7818, michael.kohn@bendbulletin.com

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