400,000 Panel Solar Project Approved
Diamond Solar Project Approved in Klamath County
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The largest solar energy project in Klamath County’s history has cleared a key hurdle and is one step closer to construction.
The Klamath County Planning Commission this week approved conditional and commercial use permits for Diamond Solar LLC, paving the way for a 1,560-acre solar installation at Diamond Junction. Once operational, the facility will include 406,000 solar panels, on-site battery storage, and a dedicated operations center — representing a major leap forward for renewable energy in Southern Oregon.
According to planning documents, the Diamond Solar Project will generate up to 200 megawatts of power, enough to supply electricity to approximately 40,000 homes each year, while providing an estimated $2 to $3 million in annual tax revenue to Klamath County.
A Regional First for Energy Storage
Project developer Invenergy, through its subsidiary Diamond Solar LLC, says the facility will be the first in the Pacific Northwest to integrate large-scale energy storage alongside solar generation. The battery system will allow electricity to be stored during peak production hours and distributed to the power grid when demand is higher — a crucial feature for grid stability and reliability.
“This project would interconnect into PacifiCorp’s existing transmission line near Chiloquin,” said Abi Light, Senior Associate at Invenergy. “The addition of storage means we can keep power flowing even when the sun isn’t shining.”
Invenergy operates 59 solar projects across the U.S., generating a combined 8.5 gigawatts of power. The company says Diamond Solar will follow its proven model of large-scale renewable infrastructure designed to strengthen both local economies and regional energy resilience.
Economic Impact and Local Support
The project is expected to create 250 to 300 construction jobs during its build-out phase, offering a short-term employment boost to the region. Once complete, ongoing operations will sustain several full-time management and maintenance positions.
Justin Throne, Klamath County Planner, praised the development’s level of preparation and collaboration:
“The developer’s use permit application was an exceptional document,” Throne said. “It included substantial evidence and extensive coordination with state and federal agencies, including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.”
Throne also noted that the site sits on a 12,000-acre tax lot owned by Shanda Asset Management, a forestry company that supports the project. Much of the timber on the proposed footprint is considered low value, making the conversion of the land less impactful to local forestry operations.
Balancing Progress and Policy
While renewable energy development continues to expand across Oregon, large-scale projects often require exceptions to state land use policies — especially when proposed on forestry-zoned property. In this case, planners determined that the public benefit of advancing clean energy outweighed the land use constraints.
The Diamond Solar project’s approval signals a growing alignment between economic opportunity and environmental stewardship in Klamath County, a region traditionally known for its agriculture and resource industries.
Looking Ahead
Final permitting and pre-construction assessments are expected to continue through early 2026. If timelines hold, construction could begin later next year, with the facility potentially coming online by 2027.
Once operational, the Diamond Solar Project will stand as a milestone for renewable energy in Southern Oregon — demonstrating how forward-looking investments can fuel both local economies and statewide clean energy goals.