Boardman Coal Plant
| Company type | Power station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Fate | Permanently shut down and demolished |
| Headquarters | Boardman , United States |
| Products | Electricity generation (coal-fired) |
| Owner | Portland General Electric |
The Boardman Coal Plant was a coal-powered facility located in Boardman, Oregon, boasting a nameplate capacity of 550 megawatts (MW). Owned by Portland General Electric, it stood as Oregon's final coal-burning plant by 2010 and represented the largest single contributor to the state's greenhouse gas emissions. This status drew significant opposition from environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, which advocated for its closure.
In 2014, Portland General Electric initiated development of the Carty Generating Station, a $500 million, 450 MW combined cycle natural gas plant situated next to the coal facility. Although the project encountered delays during construction, it signified a deliberate move toward cleaner energy alternatives.
Portland General Electric permanently shut down the Boardman Coal Plant in October 2020. The subsequent demolition process concluded in 2022, marking the cessation of coal-based electricity generation within Oregon.
Background
Commissioned in 1975, the Boardman plant was established prior to the 1977 amendments to the Clean Air Act, which imposed more rigorous emission controls. During its operation, it was responsible for approximately 65% of Oregon's stationary SO2 emissions and contributed about 7% of the state's overall CO2 output. As one of Portland General Electric’s largest generating stations, it accounted for roughly 15% of the company’s electricity production in 2009.
Recent action
Originally, PGE intended to keep Boardman operational until 2040; however, compliance with regulatory requirements would have necessitated over $500 million in pollution control upgrades by 2017. By early 2010, PGE began evaluating an earlier shutdown date around 2020. In April of that year, PGE opted for closure by 2020 to circumvent approximately $470 million in mandated upgrades, contingent on favorable legal and regulatory conditions. Oregon’s environmental regulatory body approved this closure plan in December 2010.
Construction of the Carty Generating Plant, a natural gas-fired power station adjacent to Boardman, commenced in 2014 as part of this energy transition strategy. Dismantling of the Boardman coal facility started in 2021 and was completed by 2022.