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List of largest power stations in the United States

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List of largest power stations in the United States
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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.

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Map of all utility-scale power plants

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 the electricity used for the operation of the power plant.
  • 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.[2] 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.[2]

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.[3]

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Largest power stations

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List of the electrical generating facilities in the United States with an installed capacity of at least 1,500 MW.

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Notes

  1. [N 1]
    Both units will be decommissioned by December 2028.
  2. [N 2]
    Units 1-2 were decommissioned in 2021, lowering the station's installed capacity to 1,318 MW.
  3. [N 3]
    Units 1-4 were decommissioned in 2020, lowering the station's installed capacity to 1,540 MW.
  4. [N 4]
    To be decommissioned by 2025.[77]
  5. [N 5]
    The coal-fired Unit 1 (445 MW) is being replaced with a combined-cycle natural gas unit (1,090 MW). Unit 2 (445 MW) will be decommissioned. Units 3 and 4 (445 and 486 MW, respectively) will remain unchanged and operational. Modernization will be completed by 2023.[99]
  6. [N 6]
    To be converted to natural gas by 2025.[111]
  7. [N 7]
    To be decommissioned by the end of 2021.[149]
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Largest power stations under construction

List of the electrical generating facilities under construction in the United States with an expected installed capacity of at least 1,500 MW.

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Largest decommissioned power stations

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List of former electrical generating facilities in the United States that had an installed capacity of at least 1,500 MW at the time of their decommissioning. Facilities that permanently shut down all of their electricity generating units within five years are included.

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