Portland General Electric’s Debbie Powell highlights hydropower’s history and advancements at national clean energy conference
Oct. 15, 2024
Clean energy advocates from around the nation gathered in the Rose City this October to discuss the importance of hydropower during the National Hydropower Association’s Clean Currents Conference.
The annual conference was held at the Oregon Convention Center October 7 – 10, bringing together industry professionals from various sectors, including conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, and marine energy. The event aims to facilitate collaboration, encourage innovation, and advance the industry toward a clean energy future.
For the final day of the conference, PGE’s Vice President of Utility Operations, Debbie Powell was joined by Pacific Power’s Vice President of Renewable Resources, Will Shallenberger, for a fireside chat about hydropower’s central role within Oregon’s energy history.
Hydropower, or waterpower, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce emissions-free energy that can be quickly distributed to customers. As PGE adds more intermittent renewable resources, like wind and solar, to its portfolio, hydropower offers a critical source of consistent and flexible clean energy.
The company is no stranger to hydropower, having generated electricity using hydroelectric facilities since 1889.
“With the growth of Oregon came the growth of hydropower. Or, with the growth of hydropower came the growth of Oregon,” said Powell during the fireside chat. “The two go hand in hand.”
Currently, PGE owns five hydroelectric plants on the Clackamas and Willamette Rivers and co-owns two more on the Deschutes River. The company continues to invest in hydropower modernization to ensure this resource is effective for decades to come.
“Hydropower was here before everything else, and it’ll continue to be here as we transition to more clean energy,” Powell said. “It offers the consistency and the reliability that our customers need.”
In addition to highlighting its critical role in Pacific Northwest power generation, Powell and Shallenberger championed hydropower for providing opportunities for people to connect with nature, including at PGE’s parks and recreation sites 
. The two leaders also described how federal investments have allowed both companies to continue improving plant safety and efficiency, while reducing the potential impact to customer prices.
The conversation concluded with a spotlight on partnerships, particularly PGE’s relationship with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The company and Tribes co-own the Pelton Round Butte Project, three dams situated along a 20-mile stretch of the Deschutes River. In addition to powering more than 150,000 homes, the site generates revenue for the Tribal membership while advancing environmental initiatives, guided in part by the Tribes' generations of ecological and fisheries knowledge.
PGE hosted this year’s Clean Currents Conference alongside other utilities and organizations with a presence in the Pacific Northwest, including the Northwest Hydropower Association, PacWave, Tacoma Public Utilities, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
About Portland General Electric