Oregon Public Broadcasting

A new study out shows that the PGE power plant in Boardman is responsible for as much as half of the air pollution in the Columbia River Gorge. Bilal Qureshi reports.

University of Washington professor Dan Jaffe looked at the amount of pollution in the Gorge when there were zero emissions from the plant. In 2005 PGE’s Boardman plant was temporarily shut down.  He compared the amount of haze then to when the plant was operating.

Dan Jaffe:  “And that level we’re anywhere from 15 percent of the haze if we talk about the entire year versus 55 percent if we are looking at the worst days.”

PGE has previously said the plant is outdated and it has been retrofitting the facility with new filters.  But Nat Parker with the Sierra Club says the new study shows those measures are not enough.

Nat Parker:  “And it’s time that the Oregon DEQ acknowledge this and it’s time that the utility acknowledges this. If they don’t, we’re prepared to take them to court and play hardball.”

PGE says it will take the new findings into consideration as it determines how to reduce emissions.