PGE is dedicated to increasing our reliance on renewable power and encouraging greater energy efficiency.
PGE is committed to renewable power, and so are our customers. Together, we’ve made PGE tops in the nation for sales of renewable power to residential customers.* We’re proud of this success and are working hard to build on it.
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Wind Power
Wind power will occupy an increasingly important role in our ongoing renewable energy efforts.
Klondike II
We have a long-term contract to purchase power produced by the Klondike II wind farm in Sherman County. Each of its 50 turbines can generate 1.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 18,000 homes.
Biglow Canyon
The first phase of our Biglow Canyon Wind Farm is now under construction. When it goes online in late 2007, its 76 turbines will be able to produce about 125 megawatts of capacity, enough to power 34,000 homes. Learn more about Phase I of the project.
The five-year, three-phase plan is expected to ultimately supply enough power for 100,000 homes, making it one of the largest wind power projects in the region.
Vansycle Ridge
PGE has also contracted with the Vansycle Ridge wind farm in Umatilla County for an additional 25 megawatts of capacity.
Hydro Power
PGE’s Pelton Round Butte hydro project is now officially generating “green power,” having passed a rigorous certification process to demonstrate minimum impact on fish and wildlife. It is one of only 26 hydro plants in the country to receive this designation. Pelton Round Butte generates enough electricity for a city of 143,000. Learn more in our news release.
PGE is decommissioning its Bull Run Hydroelectric Project in Oregon's Sandy River Basin. Marmot Dam was removed in summer/fall 2007, restoring the Sandy to a free-flowing river. The Little Sandy Dam is scheduled for removal in summer 2008. The removals give these rivers unimpeded access from glacier to the Pacific Ocean, benefiting fish, wildlife and public recreation. They also resolve the significant expense necessary to maintain and upgrade the 95-year-old project.
Demolition work on Marmot Dam began in July, and was completed with the breaching of the coffer dam Oct. 19. See video, time-lapse sequences and photos at MarmotDam.com.
Avoided Carbon Emissions
PGE’s efforts to bring renewable power options to market are paying off. Since 2002, customers enrolled in our Renewable Power Options have avoided generation of an estimated 648 million pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking almost 57,000 cars off the road.
Response to Climate Change
PGE is committed to meeting Oregon’s energy needs in an increasingly sustainable way:
- PGE supports a Renewable Energy Standard for the State of Oregon, which mandates that by 2025 25 percent of Oregon energy come from renewable sources.
- PGE was the first utility in the Northwest to publicly support federal caps on carbon emissions.
- PGE supports legislation modeled after the climate change recommendations of the National Commission on Energy Policy.
For more information on PGE’s support for climate change legislation, see the following:
Two Renewable Power Options for Residential and Small Business Customers
1. Green Source
100 percent renewable power from new wind, geothermal and biomass sources*
50 percent wind + 40 percent geothermal + 10 percent biomass (wood waste)
2. Clean Wind
Small units of 100 percent renewable power from new wind farms**
Available in 200 kWh units
Purchase as many units as you wish
Learn more about these renewable power options.
Renewable Power Option for Medium to Large Businesses and Organizations
Clean Wind
100 percent new wind power from northwest wind farms**
- Help offset your carbon dioxide emissions
- Receive significant advertising and publicity benefits
Learn more about these renewable power options.
* 2007 NREL data for sales of renewable power.
** “New” refers to facilities that became operational after July 1999.
