Press Releases
10/31/2019
Klamath Cogen Recognized as Nation’s Top Power Plant
Klamath Cogen Recognized as Nation’s Top Power Plant
CONTACT:
Jeff Ball, City of Klamath Falls (541) 883-5316
Art Sasse, Director, Communications & Brand, Iberdrola Renewables, 503-796-7740
Paul Copleman, Media Relations, Iberdrola Renewables, 207-641-2805
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Klamath Cogeneration Plant officially carried home Power Magazine’s Power Plant of the Year 2001 award.
Each year, this leading trade magazine’s editorial staff selects pioneering power projects based on their application of advanced equipment designs, environmental stewardship and competitive business practices.
“That the power industry recognizes our plant for its most prestigious honor helps give us some perspective in these tough economic times,” said Mayor Todd Kellstrom. “Klamath Cogen is one of the nation’s most efficient and competitive plants and it’s well positioned to produce many years of strong revenues over the long term.”
So far, benefits of the plant to Klamath Falls include:
- 500 construction jobs for 24 months pumped millions into the local economy
- Local businesses benefited as suppliers provided millions of dollars worth of electrical equipment and materials, tools, rental equipment, bulk supplies, and rolling stock for plant construction and operation
- 22 new permanent positions created with more than $1 million local payroll
- Reduced wastewater discharges to the Klamath River through use of City effluent for plant cooling
Plant Manager Mike Roberts and Allan Query, vice president at PacifiCorp Power Marketing, Inc. (PPM) received the national award March 19 at the “Electric Power 2002” Conference in St. Louis.
The 484-megawatt natural gas-fired, advanced combined-cycle cogeneration facility produces both electricity and process steam. The electricity is sold to wholesale customers throughout the West and the steam is sold to Collins Products, although steam orders have been reduced due to economic conditions in the wood products industry.
The City of Klamath Falls owns the plant and previously sponsored the issuance of $309 million in project revenue bonds that made the plant possible. Under contracts with the City of Klamath Falls, PPM manages, fuels, and markets the output of the Klamath Cogeneration Plant. Under another contract, PPM subsidiary Pacific Klamath Energy operates and maintains the facility.
The Klamath Cogeneration Plant has enjoyed strong support from conservation groups for its efficiency, cogeneration process and for setting the global standard for the most carbon dioxide mitigation ever for a fossil-fueled power plant. It was a model for Oregon legislation that now governs the carbon dioxide emissions of other fossil-fuel power plants in the state. The plant has received recognition at the state level as well, winning Oregon Governor Kitzhaber’s 2000 Sustainable Oregon Award from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission.
PPM is a non-utility power marketing subsidiary of ScottishPower. PPM markets power from sustainable electric generating plants, including the Stateline Energy Center on the Washington-Oregon border near Walla Walla, Wash.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $44 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.
With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
