Oregon Power Plant Proposals Proliferating

The most recent proposal is by Portland General Electric, which filed a notice of intent earlier this week to install a 550-megawatt turbine near Clatskanie. Also planning 550-megawatt facilities are Summit Power Northwest, which is proposing one near St. Helens, and PG&E National Energy Group, which is planning one in Umatilla County.

Additionally, a group called FPL Energy wants to build a 100-megawatt wind-powered plant also in Umatilla County, and Charlotte, NC-based Cogentrix Energy has plans to install four gas-fired turbines near Madras that would generate 1,000 megawatts. The typical 550-megawatt, natural gas-fired plant costs in the neighborhood of $350 million to develop.

All types of energy projects must pass through the Oregon Office of Energy, which makes recommendations to the Oregon Energy Facility Sighting Council, a citizen's board that gives final approval. In the last four years, 2,000 megawatts worth of power plant projects have been approved. Of that, about 750 megawatts are now being produced. The rest of the projects, including a 500-megawatt plant in Klamath Falls, should be ready later this year or next.

More power plant proposals are likely, says Mike Grainy, assistant director of the Oregon Office of Energy. "In addition to the one's just filed, we've been contacted by other potential developers, though we don't have a good sense when somebody who has talked to us will file an application, Grainy tells GlobeSt.com.

Meanwhile, there are at least a couple of power plant proposals pending for Southwest Washington as well. In October, Avista and Steag of Germany, one of the biggest power companies in Europe, announced joint plans to develop a 245-megawatt power facility at the city of Longview's Mint Farm Industrial Park.

Across town, the port of Longview is in early negotiations with Houston-based Enron North America, which announced it is hoping to begin constructing a gas-fired, 249-megawatt plant next summer on 20 acres it would lease in the port's new industrial park. Enron, the largest wholesaler of electricity and natural gas in North America, is now conducting environmental studies on the proposed site and preparing to apply for the necessary permits.

Proponents of the gas-fired plants are responding to increased demand for power caused by the growing number of residents and businesses using an increasing amount of electricity. Energy conservation groups, which would rather see more money spent on reducing power consumption than on new power plants, say the recent rash of power plant proposals is due to the region's proximity to methane-rich Canada.