💧 Hydroelectric Power Plants in Minnesota
Minnesota operates 24 hydroelectric power plants totaling 219 MW of nameplate capacity. Annual generation: 728.1k 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.
Plants24operating
Capacity218 MWnameplate
Generation728.1k MWhannual
All Minnesota hydroelectric plants
| Plant | City | County | Capacity | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson | Carlton | Carlton County | 73 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Blanchard | Royalton | Morrison County | 18 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Twin Cities Hydro Llc | St. Paul | Ramsey County | 18 MW | Twin Cities Hydro Llc |
| International Falls Power | International Falls | Koochiching County | 14 MW | Boise White Paper Llc |
| Hennepin Island | Minneapolis | Hennepin County | 14 MW | Northern States Power Co - Minnesota |
| Fond Du Lac | Duluth | St Louis County | 12 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Saf Hydroelectric Llc | Minneapolis | Hennepin County | 10 MW | Saf Hydroelectric Llc |
| Sartell Dam | Sartell | Benton County | 9 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| St. Cloud Hydro | St Cloud | Stearns County | 9 MW | St. Cloud Hydroelectric Generation Facility |
| Rapidan Hydro Facility | Mankato | Blue Earth County | 7 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| Thief River Falls | Thief River Falls | Pennington County | 7 MW | City Of Thief River Falls |
| Little Falls (Mn) | Little Falls | Morrison County | 5 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Hastings City Hydroelectric | Hastings | Dakota County | 4 MW | Hastings Lock & Dam |
| Winton | Winton | Lake County | 4 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Brainerd Public Utilities | Brainerd | Crow Wing County | 3 MW | Brainerd Public Utilities |
| Rochester Hydro | Mazeppa | Wabasha County | 3 MW | Rochester Public Utilities |
| Knife Falls | Cloquet | Carlton County | 2 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Sylvan | Pillager | Cass County | 2 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Pillager | Pillager | Cass County | 2 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Scanlon | Scanlon | Carlton County | 2 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Granite Falls | Granite Falls | Chippewa County | 1 MW | City Of Granite Falls - (Mn) |
| Prairie River | Grand Rapids | Itasca County | 1 MW | Allete, Inc. |
| Hoot Lake | Fergus Falls | Otter Tail County | 1 MW | Otter Tail Power Co |
| Byllesby | Cannon Falls | Dakota County | — | Dakota County, Mn |