Faraday Powerhouse
1907 – Present
Faraday Repower Project
Since the early 2000s, PGE has been making its older power plants on the Clackamas River stronger and safer. These upgrades help make sure the plants can keep working even if there's an earthquake. The River Mill and Oak Grove powerhouses have already been strengthened. The Faraday Powerhouse was the oldest plant on the river, and it was much harder to upgrade because it was made of brick. The old design with five generators inside and one outside wasn't very efficient compared to newer options. This meant it cost more money to run and fix. Faraday also needed new electrical equipment. Units 1-3, which started working in 1909-1910, needed major repairs. Even units 4 and 5, which were also over 100 years old, would need big upgrades. After looking at all the options, PGE decided to take down the original brick building and replace the five old generators inside with two new Kaplan turbines. These new turbines can make 18 megawatts of power each - more than all five old units combined! As part of this project, PGE also replaced the large pipes (called penstocks) that carry water to the turbines.
Time Lapse Video showing the demolition of the historic Faraday Powerhouse and construction of the new Faraday Powerhouse.
Three Lynx Village was built above the Oak Grove powerhouse and the operators, engineers, and maintenance staff required to keep everything working could live in the community with their families and easily get to work year-round. The houses at Three Lynx, with one exception, were “kit” houses purchased from the Aladdin Company, being the “Victory” Plan S model with the optional full-front porch included.
The Victory cabins for Three Lynx were loaded onto Portland Traction Company box cars and shipped by the company up the Springwater Line through Gresham to Cazadero (Faraday) and then beyond, to the rail siding at Three Lynx where they were off-loaded and assembled.
Aladdin “Victory” House, Aladdin Redi-Cut House Company, 1928 (Author Collection)
The Aladdin’s ‘Victory’ Kit Homes
Harnessing the Clackamas
Visual Timeline
The “New” Faraday Powerhouse
Three Lynx Village
c.1920 - 2022
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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
Aladdin Houses
From Camp to Village
Decline and Preservation
Decline and Preversation
Beginning of Three Lynx