Five years ago, Portland General Electric began investing in the Faraday Powerhouse, part of the West Side Hydropower project. Now, PGE is celebrating a five-year high in emissions-free power generated from its Clackamas River facilities. Originally completed in 1907, Faraday was PGE’s first hydroelectric dam on the Clackamas. It was rebuilt in 1964 after the facility sustained extensive flood damage and has now been modernized, including a new building and two state-of-the-art turbines designed to improve reliability and efficiency.
“Since the Faraday Powerhouse came online, we’ve seen an increase in efficiency, meaning more megawatts generated for every drop of water that flows down the Clackamas River,” said Garth Wyatt, plant manager.
in addition to the increased efficiency, the facility also provides safer conditions for wildlife. The new turbines are designed to improve survival for juvenile fish migrating from the river to the ocean.
Check out the progress photos and read more here: Upgrades to PGE hydropower facility contribute to record-high energy generation on the Clackamas River | PGE