Alright,

One project down, four more to go.

For the past week I have been working on a project at PGE. We are dedicating a new $285 million dollar, 400 mW gas turbine generator about 60 miles north west of Portland on the Columbia River.

I was in charge of setting up massive displays (<----Displays!) with pretty pictures of construction and the finished product. I didn't take these pictures, but I helped to got them printed and mounted on foam core boards. I also wrote captions. The work reminded me of my old science fair days (which I thought were pretty good boards, never mind the science).

Additionally, I worked on fact sheets, media kits and a few other details.

Today was the big dedication and everything went smoothly. The boards looked great and everything came together nicely. It was satisfying to actually see the plant and understand the complexity and enormity of what had been built.

It is the most fuel efficient thermal plant in the U.S.

Here is a story about it.

Another big event coming up next week is the dynamite detonation of Marmot Dam on the Sandy River. The power house is decommissioned and the dam's removal will facilitate salmon runs further up stream.

When I came back from the dedication at the generation plant, people in the office asked me how it went...I said terrible. We got so confused by everything going on at once, we blew up the plant and re-dedicated an old dam.

Ok, you may not think it is very funny, but you had to be there.

Here is a picture Polly wanted you to see:

Hazelnut shell mulch! Way cool... an entire garden full of shells. I wonder if it works...

Specially props to our friend Franny, who called me out of the blue today. I told her about the blog and perhaps she will visit often to discover the truly mundane lives of Portlanders!