Global InformationList of largest power stations in the United States information
This article lists the largest electricity generating stations in the United States in terms of installed electrical capacity. Non-renewable power stations are those that run on coal, fuel oils, nuclear, natural gas, oil shale, and peat, while renewable power stations run on fuel sources such as biomass, geothermal heat, hydro, solar energy, solar heat, tides, waves, and the wind.
Two related terms are used to describe electricity production:
- Generation—a measure of electricity produced over time. Most electric power plants use some of the electricity they produce to operate the power plant. Net generation excludes electricity used for power plant operations.
- Capacity—the maximum level of electric power (electricity) that a power plant can supply at a specific point in time under certain conditions.[1]
The power generating facility with the largest power capacity (potential power production) is the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington.[2] The facility generates power by utilizing 27 Francis turbines and 6 pump-generators, with a total installed capacity of 7,079 MW. However, Grand Coulee Dam does not have the largest annual net generation due to a relatively low capacity factor.
The power generating facility with the largest annual net generation (actual electricity put out to the power grid) is Palo Verde in Arizona with 31,629,862 MWh in 2021.[3] The second and third largest were Browns Ferry and Peach Bottom with 31,053,552 MWh and 22,268,244 MWh, respectively. All three of these are nuclear power plants, and eight of the top 10 power plants with the largest annual net generation in 2021 are nuclear power plants.[4]
The largest power generating facility under construction is the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Wyoming, which will generate 2,500-3,000 MW when completed in 2026.[5]
- ^ "Electricity generation, capacity, and sales in the United States - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Electricity generation, capacity, and sales in the United States - top 10 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Electricity generation, capacity, and sales in the United States - top 10 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Electricity generation, capacity, and sales in the United States - top 10 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Power Company of Wyoming: Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project". www.powercompanyofwyoming.com. Retrieved 12 January 2020.