PGE employees take action for Earth Day with SOLVE to beautify communities

With trash pickers in hand and the sun shining on their faces, Portland General Electric employees recognized Earth Day by beautifying their communities alongside Governor Tina Kotek and other volunteers for SOLVE’s Oregon Spring Clean Up .

On Saturday, April 19th, a group of more than 50 volunteers gathered at Wallace Marine Park in Salem for one of SOLVE’s more than 80 community cleanup events spanning across the state this Spring.

PGE and SOLVE’s longtime partnership dates back to 1989. The volunteer-driven environmental nonprofit works to enhance local outdoor spaces and waterways while bringing communities together. While SOLVE hosts cleanup events throughout the year, they believe celebrating Earth Day is a defining moment for volunteers to take action to improve their communities.

PGE is committed to advancing the health, beauty and economic success of the communities in its service area and near PGE power generation sites. The SOLVE Oregon Spring Clean Up is just one of dozens of volunteer events PGE employees participate in across the region during the company’s Spring Into Action volunteer service campaign in April.

PGE’s vice president of advanced energy delivery, Larry Bekkedahl said Earth Day is an important reminder to safeguard the Earth for future generations, a responsibility he takes seriously.

“Thank you to everyone who gets involved because it is really about putting community first and making a positive and lasting difference. That’s what we strive for everyday in our work,” said Bekkedahl.

2024 Environmental Impact

Portland General Electric’s commitment to environmental stewardship is year-round, as PGE works to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions from power served by 2040, reflecting the state of Oregon’s climate goals.

In 2024, PGE made pivotal progress with 45% of power generation produced from non-emitting resources such as hydropower, solar, and wind.

As PGE works to provide more renewable energy to everyone in its service area, many PGE customers are taking action themselves by participating in the company’s Green Future program. These customers opt to pay a little more on their energy bill in support of renewable energy resource projects.

Thanks to the more than 225,000 Green Future participants, they supported enough renewable energy to prevent the release of over 3.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide while helping generate 4,398 kWh of renewable energy. That’s equivalent to 57,000 hours of video streaming and 3,658 pots of brewed coffee.

It’s all part of PGE’s lasting commitment to protect the health of communities for decades to come.

Check out the stories below to learn more about our environmental commitments:

PGE Renewable Development Fund awardee breaks ground on new senior house development, powered by solar

Upgrades to PGE hydropower facility contribute to record-high energy generation on the Clackamas River

PGE reports record clean energy resources in newly released 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report, “Advancing Toward a Clean Energy Future”

PGE employees gear up to pickup trash and debris at Wallace Marine Park in Salem for Earth Day.

Gov. Tina Kotek and volunteers pose in front of PGE’s all-electric vehicle ahead of SOLVE cleanup event at Wallace Marine Park in Salem.

PGE’s vice president of advanced energy delivery, Larry Bekkedahl picks up trash and debris along with the Wallace Marine Park waterfront in Salem.

PGE’s vice president of advanced energy delivery, Larry Bekkedahl picks up trash and debris in Wallace Marine Park in Salem.

Gov. Tina Kotek and volunteers gear up to pickup trash and debris in Wallace Marine Park in Salem.

SOLVE volunteers make a plan of action for their Earth Day cleanup event at Wallace Marine Park in Salem.

About Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news