Exciting progress is coming to Grant County as Record Energy Center LLC partners with local landowners to develop a state-of-the-art renewable energy facility that will power thousands of homes while respecting the region's natural and cultural heritage.

The Portland-based renewable energy developer is working with Grant County officials to build an 80-megawatt solar farm paired with battery storage on more than 750 acres of rural land northeast of Quincy. This impressive project represents a significant investment in clean energy infrastructure that will serve the community for decades to come.

What makes this project especially heartening is the strong collaboration between the developer and local property owners. Multiple Grant County families and landowners, including Somers Sunrise Ranch and Quincy Orchard Holdings, are participating as partners in bringing this vision to life on their land in the scenic Beezley Hills area.

The facility will feature up to 180,000 photovoltaic panels mounted on innovative tracking systems that follow the sun throughout the day, maximizing energy production. A four-hour battery storage system will ensure power is available when the community needs it most, providing grid stability and reliability for years to come.

Economic benefits are substantial. The project is expected to create approximately 200 construction jobs during the 12 to 18-month building phase, bringing employment opportunities to the region. Once operational, the facility will generate clean electricity for an estimated 30 to 40 years, with commercial operations potentially beginning as early as July 2030.

The developer has demonstrated exceptional environmental stewardship throughout the planning process. After discovering a Washington ground squirrel colony on site—an important state candidate species—the project design was revised to avoid the habitat with a generous 300-foot buffer zone. Wildlife-friendly fencing and travel corridors will preserve movement pathways for deer and other mammals.

Cultural preservation has been taken seriously as well. Working closely with the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the team conducted thorough archaeological surveys and adjusted the project layout to avoid all precontact archaeological sites and culturally significant areas. Tribal monitors participated in the investigations, and a comprehensive monitoring plan will protect any discoveries during construction.

Environmental review materials highlight the project's minimal footprint, with only one to two percent of the site covered by impervious surfaces. Stormwater management using best practices will protect local water resources, and the site's location on non-irrigated grasslands and retired orchards means productive agricultural land remains available for other uses.

Grant County residents will have multiple opportunities to participate in the process, with a public hearing scheduled for April 8 before the County Hearings Examiner, with both in-person and remote testimony options available. The public comment period extends through January 19, 2026, ensuring community voices are heard.

This project exemplifies how renewable energy development can work hand-in-hand with landowners, environmental protection, and community values to build a cleaner, more sustainable future for rural Washington.