As of August 2026, Portland Water Bureau's solar arrays produce about 350,000 kWh a year, and its Vernon micro-hydroelectric turbine about 140,000 kWh. Together that is about 490,000 kWh, roughly one-eighth of the 4 million kWh a year its Net Zero Strategy sets as the renewable electricity goal for 2050.
The targets
The Bureau has committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 against a 2007 baseline and to reach net zero by 2050. Its first Net Zero Strategy, published in 2024, lists seven priorities for FY 2025 to FY 2029, led by reducing electricity use and increasing renewable generation through new solar and micro-hydro projects.
Electricity is the main source
About 79% of the Bureau's Scope 1 and 2 emissions come from electricity use. In August 2026 the Vernon turbine at Sabin HydroPark returned to full power after repairs supported by an $86,000 contribution from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund; its output is sold to PacifiCorp.
A volatile baseline
Reported emissions swing from year to year: 8,004 metric tons of CO2e in FY 2014-15, 13,965 in FY 2015-16 and 9,900 in FY 2016-17. The Bureau's climate page projects that, without further action, emissions would fall to about 2,000 metric tons by 2050, short of net zero.
A new plant arrives first
The 135 million gallon a day Bull Run filtration facility is due to deliver filtered water by September 30, 2029, one year before the 2030 target. In August 2026 the City also sold $567.53 million of second-lien green bonds, including refunding.
What the filtration plant could mean for the 2030 target, how water loss and metering feed the carbon plan, and which milestones fall due first are covered in the full report. The full report, Water Utility of the Future: Portland Water Bureau, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the Portland Water Bureau Utility Snapshot.