💧 Hydroelectric Power Plants in Kentucky
Kentucky operates 14 hydroelectric power plants totaling 1,100 MW of nameplate capacity. Annual generation: 4.0M 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.
Plants14operating
Capacity1,099 MWnameplate
Generation4.0M MWhannual
All Kentucky hydroelectric plants
| Plant | City | County | Capacity | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek | Jamestown | Russell County | 270 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Kentucky Dam | Grand Rivers | Marshall County | 219 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Barkley | Kuttawa | Lyon County | 130 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Ohio Falls | Shippingport Island | Jefferson County | 110 MW | Louisville Gas & Electric Co |
| Meldahl Hydroelectric Project | Foster | Bracken County | 105 MW | City Of Hamilton - (Oh) |
| Cannelton Hydroelectric Plant | Hawesville | Hancock County | 88 MW | American Mun Power-Ohio, Inc |
| Smithland Hydroelectric Plant | Smithland | Livingston County | 76 MW | American Mun Power-Ohio, Inc |
| Laurel Dam | London | Laurel County | 70 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Dix Dam | Harrodsburg | Mercer County | 28 MW | Kentucky Utilities Co |
| Matilda Hamilton Fee Hydroelectric Stati | Ravenna | Estill County | 3 MW | Lock 12 Hydro Partners, Llc |
| Mother Ann Lee | Harrodsburg | Mercer County | 2 MW | Lock 7 Hydro Partners Llc |
| Ky No. 11 L&d Hydroelectric Project | Irvine | Estill County | — | Lock 11 Hydro Partners, Llc |
| Evelyn Hydroelectric Project | Evelyn | Lee County | — | Lock 13 Hydro Partners |
| Heidelberg Hydroelectric Project | Heidelberg | Lee County | — | Lock 14 Hydro Partners, Llc |