1990s - Present
A Thoughtful Transition
PGE celebrated the 100-year anniversary of providing electricity to customers near the end of the 20th Century. The PGE story is part of Oregon’s story. It all began in 1889, when PGE was the first in the nation to transmit electricity long distance, 14 miles from Willamette Falls to downtown Portland. Today, PGE continues that tradition of innovation, leading Oregon, and customers in a transition to a clean energy future.
Forever Evolving
As the decision was made to decommission some generation technologies of the past, PGE recommitted to clean hydroelectric power from the historic power plants, while looking to innovative technologies as part of the company’s mission to decarbonize power generation in the future.
Era highlights:
Port Westward
Boardman Demolition
Powering the Future
PGE is taking the lead in providing a clean energy future for the residents of Oregon while anticipating the need for a resilient, flexible, and carbon-free grid to serve the dynamic growth within the service territory.
Era highlights:
Tucannon River Wind Farm
PGE Firsts
PGE has been a regional leader in wind generation since constructing the company’s first wind turbines in 2007, while also being responsible for many milestones that continue to show the company’s commitment to decarbonization and protecting the environment.
Highlights:
Milestones and Innovations
Power of Wind Generation
Highlights:
230kV Transmission
Distribution Technology
PGE Firsts
PGE celebrates countless transmission and distribution milestones during this era, including advances in technology and the creation of the first PGE transmission line that transversed the Cascade Range connecting the newly constructed eastern hydroelectric generation plants to the Portland Metro service territory.
Era highlights:
Beaver Combustion Plant
As PGE looked to expand existing infrastructure to support growing demand for power, the company developed new generation sites that harnessed the power of water with a large hydroelectric project east of the Cascades and began experimenting with new generation technologies that were revolutionary for their time.
Building Reliable Power Plants
Expansion of the Clackamas Project and creation of PGE Parks
With the Faraday, River Mill, and Oak Grove Hydroelectric Plants generating substantial amounts of clean energy along the Clackamas River, the company saw additional potential and looked to expand the overall project with more hydro power capacity to meet the growing demand.
Powering Progress
PGEs involvement and leadership with the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition led to a rapid increase in the Portland area population, with people coming from all over the country to see the city with lights. This population growth led to the growth of additional industries, new communities outside of downtown and inherently the need for more electricity.
1940s - 1980s
Era highlights:
Boardman Coal Plant
Beaver Combustion Plant
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
Forever Evolving
Powering the Future
A Thoughtful Transition
Clackamas Project Expansion
Building Reliable Power Plants
Powering Progress
Willamette Falls
Clackamas River Construction
Electrifying Oregon
History of PGE
2007 | Port Westward
Forever Evolving
Learn about Port Westward
2007 | Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
2016 | Carty Generating Station
Forever Evolving
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2020 | Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility
Powering the Future
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2014 | Tucannon River Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Tucannon River Wind Farm
1974 | Beaver Combustion Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Beaver Combustion Plant
1976 | Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
1980 | Boardman Coal Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Boardman Coal Power Plant
1958 | North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
Learn about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
1964 | Round Butte Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1958 | Pelton Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1965 | Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
1956 | Timothy Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1956 | Frog Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1953 | PGE Parks & Recreation
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1909 | Electric Building
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | The Milliken Transmission Line
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about The Milliken Transmission Line
1907 | Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | River Mill Powerhouse (Station M)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1924 | Three Lynx Village
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about Three Lynx Village
1924 | Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1895 | T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse (Station B)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station B
1889 | Willamette Falls Powerhouse (Station A)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station A
1868 | Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
2007 | Port Westward
Forever Evolving
Learn about Port Westward
2007 | Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
2016 | Carty Generating Station
Forever Evolving
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2020 | Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility
Powering the Future
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2014 | Tucannon River Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Tucannon River Wind Farm
1974 | Beaver Combustion Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Beaver Combustion Plant
1976 | Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
1980 | Boardman Coal Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Boardman Coal Power Plant
1958 | North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
Learn about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
1964 | Round Butte Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1958 | Pelton Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1965 | Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
1956 | Timothy Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1956 | Frog Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1953 | PGE Parks & Recreation
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1909 | Electric Building
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | The Milliken Transmission Line
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about The Milliken Transmission Line
1907 | Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | River Mill Powerhouse (Station M)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1924 | Three Lynx Village
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about Three Lynx Village
1924 | Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1895 | T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse (Station B)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station B
1889 | Willamette Falls Powerhouse (Station A)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station A
1868 | Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
Show All
A Thoughtful Transition
1990s - Present
Powering Progress
1940s - 1980s
Electrifying Oregon
1860s - 1930s