Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland General Electric has applied for a permit to discharge contaminants at a new natural gas-fired power plant in northeastern Oregon. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

PGE wants to build the plant next to its existing coal-fired power station in Boardman. The company says a new generator is needed to meet an expected 20 percent growth in electricity demand over the next decade.

It would be PGE's fourth natural-gas fire plant and its second at the Boardman site. Boardman has come under fire from environmental groups for the amount of pollutants it emits.

The new gas-fired plant would emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates. It would also increase Oregon's emissions of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has scheduled a meeting to discuss the permit at the Port of Morrow on January 21st.