Explosives toppled Portland General Electric’s (PGE) shuttered coal-fired power plant last week — the last plant of its kind in Oregon. Crews expect to complete the demolition project within a year or so.

The Boardman Coal Plant operated from 1980-2020 about 170 miles east of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge. At peak output, the plant reportedly burned through five-and-a-half tons of coal per minute, producing enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes.

PGE is investing in more renewable and non-polluting power sources, with plans to replace the power generated by Boardman Coal with wind and solar power generated by the nearby Wheatridge Renewable Energy facility.

Explosives toppled a 19-story boiler building + a 656-ft smokestack. | Courtesy to PDXtoday