T. W. Sullivan Hydroelectric Plant
| Industry | Electric power |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
| Products | Electricity generation (hydroelectric) |
Portland General Electric (PGE) developed the T. W. Sullivan Hydroelectric Plant at Willamette Falls between 1888 and 1895, marking the inception of the United States' first long-range power transmission system. The facility initially began operations with Station A in 1889; by 1895, Station B was constructed on the same dam, supplanting Station A. In 1953, Station B was dedicated to engineer Thomas Sullivan, who was responsible for its design as well as that of nearby paper manufacturing facilities. On the northwest side of the river, the Willamette Falls Paper Company operated, while the Blue Heron paper mill was situated across the river in Oregon City. At that time, the plant’s output ranged between 11,000 and 17,500 kilowatts—a production level it continues to sustain today. The Sullivan Plant is part of an exclusive group of hydroelectric facilities in the U.S. recognized with "Green" certification by PGE. During the 1920s, a portion of the paper mill was constructed atop the dam and remains functional.
History
The oldest structure in the complex is the Willamette Falls Locks, dating back to 1873, which predates the dam built for Station A.
Station B originally housed large Westinghouse alternators, which were the most sizable units available at that time; however, Westinghouse expressed skepticism about their expected ten-year operational life. In 1911, additional Westinghouse alternators were installed along with an enormous Allis-Chalmers generator that was three times larger than the initial units. A flood in 1924 caused damage to half of the turbines, necessitating the removal of half of the generators, including the largest one. Following a significant dam failure in 1947, repairs were undertaken, but another flood in 1953 inflicted further harm on some of the original alternators. Currently, eleven units from 1953 and two from 1924 remain in active service.