Private developers Limitless Solutions and North Renew Energy presented a feasibility overview on Dec. 17 for a large utility‑scale solar project on county-owned Fort Thompson property north of Bend. Developers said desktop analysis and a pre‑application meeting with county planners show no immediate red flags and that the site offers an unusually close point of interconnection to a Pacific Power transmission corridor — a major economic advantage for a large project.

Project overview: developers estimated the site could accommodate roughly 100–115 MW of solar and discussed an interconnection process (Pacific Power cluster study) that typically runs 18–24 months. They described potential county benefits including lease payments and a payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑tax (PILOT) pilot program that could create dedicated community revenue for priorities such as scholarships or affordable housing. Developers emphasized that photo-simulations, viewshed studies and neighbor engagement would shape final design and mitigate visual impacts along Highway 97.

Board direction: commissioners expressed interest in early community engagement, door‑to‑door outreach to immediate neighbors, and public listening sessions before any conditional‑use permit (CUP) process. The board signaled support for a limited due‑diligence agreement (an MOU or exclusivity memorandum) of roughly 12 months so developers can perform surveys, view‑shed analysis and community outreach without other parties undermining the effort; that MOU would explicitly allow public outreach to occur before lease negotiations or CUP filings. Commissioners also asked staff to include the prior park/campground concept for the site in public listening sessions so the community can weigh long-term options for the county-owned property.

What’s next: staff said an MOU that includes outreach and limited site exclusivity would be brought back for administrative signature, with the county administrator executing an agreement only after one‑on‑one review with commissioners. If due diligence is promising, the developers said next steps would include a refined layout, interconnection study enrollment (cluster study window) and formal CUP and agency coordination in subsequent years.