Community Outreach
Stakeholder Engagement
Tribal Relations
Media Relations
Materials Development
Messaging
Reporting
For more than a decade, Portland General Electric (PGE) has engaged local communities as part of its development of the Willamette Falls facility.
This project represents a critical modernization of a vital hydroelectric plant with enormous historical and cultural significance. It plays a critical role in the region’s energy infrastructure. It also requires adept collaboration with tribal communities, environmental advocates, and local residents.
Hubbell was brought in to help focus PGE’s community outreach efforts. This included developing a outreach plan focused on making sure PGE demonstrated transparency while gathering feedback to address concerns from local stakeholders.
Our team’s work focused on inclusive engagement with local communities, collaboration with Indigenous Tribes, environmental stewardship, historical preservation, and economic benefits. Our approach prioritized transparency and feedback throughout the project’s development, with a strong emphasis on addressing the concerns of all stakeholders while modernizing the facility to align with Oregon's clean energy goals.
This outreach effort was designed to reflect a commitment to balancing the needs of local communities with the need for sustainable and renewable energy infrastructure.
The Willamette Falls holds significant cultural and spiritual value for Indigenous Tribes, particularly the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. We helped PGE engage tribal leadership early in the process to ensure their involvement in decision-making and to acknowledge the falls' importance as a fishing site and a sacred space.
Our team worked closely with local community leaders to foster positive relationships. This includes both urban and rural communities around Oregon City and surrounding areas, many of whom have a deep historical connection to the falls. Our team worked with PGE to conduct community meetings, open houses, and public forums to ensure that residents have opportunities to learn about the project, ask questions, and provide input.
As part of our team’s outreach, PGE consulted with environmental organizations and government agencies to minimize impacts on local wildlife, water quality, and ecosystem health, especially with regard to fish passage and habitat restoration efforts.
Throughout the planning and regulatory processes, we helped incorporate public feedback into the company’s project development. This includes responding to community concerns, providing updates on project timelines, and adjusting plans based on input received during public outreach sessions.
