This fall, Energy Trust of Oregon was pleased to join the City of Beaverton in celebrating a significant climate action milestone. After years of planning and investment, the city’s drinking water system is now also producing clean, renewable energy thanks to the addition of hydropower.
Hydropower turbines are a relatively straightforward technology; as drinking water moves through Beaverton’s Sexton Mountain Pump Station, the turbine generates constant clean energy. This will offset roughly a quarter of the power needed to run the public works facility and will save the city thousands of dollars on energy costs every year for decades to come.
“Sustainability is a core priority for our city, and we believe it must be woven into every aspect of our operations,” said Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty. “Projects like these not only help reduce the city’s carbon emissions but also enhance our financial sustainability. Once again, Beaverton is at the forefront of creating innovative solutions that benefit our community and the environment, setting an example for others to follow.”
This hydropower project is a powerful example of how cities can reimagine their infrastructure to help meet their climate goals. Energy Trust is proud to support Beaverton’s vision and worked with the city from conceptualization to execution, providing $560,000 to help lower the cost of the project.
“Energy Trust is proud to play a role in bringing these essential improvements within reach for Oregon communities,” said Tracy Scott, Energy Trust director of energy programs. “Beaverton is one of the first cities in Oregon to incorporate this hydropower technology and we are excited to support other Oregon communities installing similar in-conduit hydropower systems.”
Energy Trust was honored to take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside city leaders and staff to celebrate this impressive achievement.
Energy Trust can be a key partner for cities and towns looking to reach climate goals and lower their energy costs. Since 2005, Energy Trust has worked closely with Beaverton, helping make 15 different public buildings more energy-efficient, from the library to city hall, providing both hands-on technical guidance and more than $1.5 million in funding. The result: Beaverton will save 35 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 169,000 therms of natural gas over the life of these upgrades – or enough energy to power 3,500 homes and heat 300 homes for a year.
As cities across Oregon continue to face the challenges of climate change, Energy Trust is ready to help plan, fund and execute forward-thinking infrastructure improvements. Reach out to us today to get the conversation started.