Portland General Electric's new wind farm contributes to record-high wind generation for Oregon customers

Rhea-AI Summary

Portland General Electric (PGE) achieved a significant milestone with its Clearwater Wind Energy Center, generating over one gigawatt of power from wind sources for the first time in company history. The facility, located in Eastern Montana, provides PGE with 311 megawatts of capacity through ownership (208 MW) and a Power Purchase Agreement (103 MW).

The center began commercial operations in January 2024 and has consistently contributed about 34% of PGE's daily wind generation. The company reached its all-time wind generation record of 1,056 megawatts on February 26, 2024. The facility helps reduce dependency on open market energy purchases and benefits from federal Production Tax Credits.

Positive

• Achieved record wind generation of 1,056 megawatts
• Clearwater Wind Energy Center contributes 34% of daily wind generation
• Reduces need for costly market energy purchases
• Benefits from federal Production Tax Credits
• Diversifies energy portfolio with consistent winter and summer production

Negative

• None.

Insights

Energy Infrastructure Analyst

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center marks a significant operational milestone for PGE, demonstrating strong execution in renewable energy expansion. The facility's 311 MW capacity (208 MW owned, 103 MW contracted) and consistent production profile significantly enhance PGE's generation portfolio. The achievement of 1,056 MW peak wind generation showcases operational excellence and portfolio diversification.

The project's strategic location in Montana provides geographical diversification and complementary generation patterns to PGE's Columbia River Gorge assets. The utilization of federal Production Tax Credits and existing transmission infrastructure indicates strong financial planning. The facility's 34% contribution to daily wind generation helps reduce exposure to volatile energy market prices and supports PGE's decarbonization goals while maintaining cost efficiency.

Financial Analyst

This development positively impacts PGE's financial outlook through multiple channels. The Production Tax Credits provide valuable tax efficiency, while the reduced reliance on market purchases offers better cost control and margin stability. The project's integration into existing transmission infrastructure minimizes additional capital requirements.

The strategic timing of the project amid rising energy costs and increasing regulatory pressure for clean energy transition demonstrates prudent capital allocation. The high capacity factor during peak demand seasons (winter and summer) should support stronger revenue generation when power prices typically surge. This asset strengthens PGE's competitive position in the regulated utility space and supports long-term earnings stability.

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center helped PGE generate more than one gigawatt of power
from wind sources alone for the first time in company history

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In its first ten months serving PGE customers, the Clearwater Wind Energy Center contributed to new records for PGE wind generation, including helping the company produce one gigawatt of power from wind sources alone – a new milestone. One gigawatt (or 1,000 megawatts) is enough electricity to power the equivalent of 830,000 homes, or about half the number of homes in Oregon.

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center, located in Rosebud, Custer, and Garfield counties in Eastern Montana, was developed in four phases by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which operates and owns part of the facility. PGE owns 208 megawatts of the center and purchases an additional 103 megawatts through a Power Purchase Agreement, supplying customers a total of 311 megawatts.

The portions of the facility serving PGE customers achieved commercial operations by January 2024 and take advantage of consistent winds from the vast plains of the Treasure State. Alongside other renewable energy projects in the Pacific Northwest, the Clearwater Wind Energy Center adds diversity and consistency to PGE's energy portfolio, allowing the company to source power for customers when it's available from a variety of resource types and locations.

With Montana's abundant and consistent wind, the Clearwater Wind Energy Center delivers high levels of production during the winter and summer, allowing PGE to serve Oregon customers additional reliable clean energy during periods of high demand. In January 2024, PGE's owned and contracted wind facilities produced a maximum output of more than one gigawatt of wind power for the first time, thanks in large part to the addition of the Clearwater Wind Energy Center. This milestone was achieved again on another 25 days throughout 2024, including on February 26, when PGE reached its all-time record for maximum wind generation at 1,056 megawatts. In addition to the Clearwater Wind Energy Center, which consistently contributes about 34% of PGE's daily wind generation, PGE also operates wind facilities in the Columbia River Gorge. 

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center was selected through PGE's 2021 Request for Proposal, a competitive bidding process through which the company solicits proposals for electricity generation facilities that bring value to customers.  

"In just a few short years, we were able to take the Clearwater Wind Energy Center from a proposal on paper to the efficient, productive facility it is today," said Maria Pope, PGE President and CEO, at an event in September celebrating the commissioning of the facility. "This plant is an example of how working together, we can act quickly to solve some of the biggest challenges facing the energy industry."

The emissions-free power generated at the facility is delivered to PGE customers through existing transmission lines on Northwestern and Bonneville Power Administration's system, as well as an approximately 100-mile generation-tie line connecting to the Colstrip substation. The wind center's addition to PGE's generation portfolio also reduces the need to purchase potentially costly or greenhouse gas-emitting resources from the open energy market, and takes advantage of federal Production Tax Credits available to renewable energy projects.

"The Clearwater Wind Energy Center is an important component of the future of the Western clean energy landscape," said Maria Pope. "Sourcing energy from diverse geographies improves reliability at lower costs for customers."

During each phase of construction, the Clearwater Wind Energy Center created up to 350 jobs and continues to employ operations workers onsite, while generating revenue for the local community. Wind power continues to be an important piece of PGE's portfolio as the company works to decarbonize while providing reliable, affordable electricity to customers.

View or download b-roll, photos, and videos of the Clearwater Wind Energy Center.

About Portland General Electric Company: 

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 930,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered social progress delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE has the largest voluntary renewable energy program in the country and was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index. PGE is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. PGE is recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the company's commitment to creating a more equal, inclusive workplace. In 2023, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $4.6 million and volunteered over 23,000 volunteer hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. For more information: portlandgeneral.com/news

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, events and the like may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the company's future energy mix; statements concerning the company's integration of smart-grid technologies and renewable energy into the grid; statements regarding acquisition, construction, completion, and operation of generating and battery storage facilities; as well as other statements containing words such as "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "promises," "expects," "should," "conditioned upon," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including construction and operational risks relating to the generation and battery storage facilities, including wind conditions and unscheduled delays or plant outages, which may result in unanticipated operating, maintenance and repair costs, as well as replacement power costs; the costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations, including changes in weather, hydroelectric and energy markets conditions, which could affect the availability and cost of purchased power and fuel; changes in capital market conditions, which could affect the availability and cost of capital and result in delay or cancellation of capital projects; failure to complete capital projects on schedule or within budget, failure of the counterparty to perform under the agreements, or the abandonment of capital projects, which could result in the company's inability to recover project costs; the outcome of various legal and regulatory proceedings; and general economic and financial market conditions. As a result, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the company on the date hereof and such statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also review the risks and uncertainties listed in the company's most recent annual report on form 10-K and the company's reports on forms 8-K and 10-Q filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and the risks described therein from time to time.

Contact Info:
PGE Communications, PGECommunications@pgn.com; 503-464-2067

Source: Portland General Company

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SOURCE Portland General Company

FAQ

How much power does PGE's Clearwater Wind Energy Center generate?

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center provides PGE with 311 megawatts of total capacity, consisting of 208 megawatts owned by PGE and 103 megawatts through a Power Purchase Agreement.

When did PGE's Clearwater Wind Energy Center begin operations?

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center began commercial operations in January 2024.

What is PGE's record for wind power generation?

PGE reached its all-time record for maximum wind generation at 1,056 megawatts on February 26, 2024.

What percentage of PGE's daily wind generation comes from Clearwater Wind Energy Center?

The Clearwater Wind Energy Center consistently contributes about 34% of PGE's daily wind generation.