71st largest plant in New Mexico · 5108th nationally
Abiquiu Dam is a hydroelectric power plant in New Mexico with a nameplate capacity of 15.6 MW. It generates roughly 46.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 4,426 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 34% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Abiquiu Dam |
|---|---|
| Operator | Los Alamos County |
| City | Abiquiu |
| County | Rio Arriba County |
| State | New Mexico |
| ZIP | 87510 |
| Coordinates | 36.23989, -106.42304 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 6.3 MW | Operating | 1989 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 6.3 MW | Operating | 1989 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 3.0 MW | Operating | 2011 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Western Area Power Administration - Rocky Mountain Region |
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.