💧 Hydroelectric Power Plants in North Carolina
North Carolina operates 40 hydroelectric power plants totaling 2,054 MW of nameplate capacity. Annual generation: 4.2M MWh.
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.
Plants40operating
Capacity2,054 MWnameplate
Generation4.2M MWhannual
All North Carolina hydroelectric plants
| Plant | City | County | Capacity | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowans Ford | Stanley | Lincoln County | 350 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Fontana Dam | Fontana Dam | Swain County | 255 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Gaston | Roanoke Rapids | Halifax County | 178 MW | Virginia Electric & Power Co |
| Hiwassee Dam | Murphy | Cherokee County | 166 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Cheoah | Tapoco | Graham County | 140 MW | Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower Lp |
| Narrows (Nc) | Badin | Stanly County | 109 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| Walters | Waterville | Haywood County | 108 MW | Duke Energy Progress - (Nc) |
| Roanoke Rapids | Roanoke Rapids | Halifax County | 100 MW | Virginia Electric & Power Co |
| Blewett | Lilesville | Anson County | 95 MW | Duke Energy Progress - (Nc) |
| Tillery | Mount Gilead | Montgomery County | 84 MW | Duke Energy Progress - (Nc) |
| Mountain Island | Mount Holly | Gaston County | 60 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Santeetlah | Robbinsville | Graham County | 45 MW | Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower Lp |
| Nantahala | Topton | Macon County | 43 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Tuckertown Hydro | New London | Montgomery County | 42 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| Oxford Dam | Conover | Catawba County | 36 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| High Rock Hydro | Denton | Davidson County | 33 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| Falls Hydro | Badin | Stanly County | 31 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| Bridgewater | Morganton | Burke County | 28 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Lookout Shoals | Statesville | Iredell County | 26 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Rhodhiss | Rhodhiss | Caldwell County | 26 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Thorpe | Tuckasegee | Jackson County | 22 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Chatuge | Hayesville | Clay County | 13 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Tennessee Creek | Tuckasegee | Jackson County | 11 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Bear Creek Dam | Tuckasegee | Jackson County | 9 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Cedar Cliff | Tuckasegee | Jackson County | 6 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Turner Shoals | Mill Springs | Polk County | 5 MW | Northbrook Carolina Hydro Llc |
| Marshall Dam | Marshall | Madison County | 5 MW | Duke Energy Progress - (Nc) |
| Tuxedo | Flat Rock | Henderson County | 5 MW | Northbrook Tuxedo, Llc |
| Jordan Hydroelectric Project | Moncure | Chatham County | 4 MW | Jordan Hydroelectric Ltd Ptp |
| Lake Lure | Lake Lure | Rutherford County | 4 MW | Lake Lure Town Of |
| Tuckasegee | Tuckasegee | Jackson County | 3 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Metropolitan Sewerage District | Asheville | Buncombe County | 2 MW | Metropolitan Sewerage District |
| Mission | Murphy | Clay County | 2 MW | Northbrook Carolina Hydro Ii, Llc |
| High Shoals Hydro (Nc) | High Shoals | Lincoln County | 2 MW | Central Rivers Power Us, Llc |
| Rocky Mount Mill | Rocky Mount | Nash County | 2 MW | Capitol Broadcasting Company Inc |
| Haw River Hydro | Saxapahaw | Alamance County | 2 MW | Haw River Hydro Co |
| Queens Creek | Topton | Macon County | 1 MW | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| Ivy River Hydro | Marshall | Madison County | 1 MW | Madison Hydro Partners |
| Avalon Hydropower | Mayodan | Rockingham County | 1 MW | Avalon Hydropower Llc |
| Franklin (Nc) | Franklin | Macon County | 1 MW | Northbrook Carolina Hydro Ii, Llc |