2nd largest plant in South Dakota · 698th nationally
Big Bend Dam is a hydroelectric power plant in South Dakota with a nameplate capacity of 538 MW. It generates roughly 770.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 73,384 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 16% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Big Bend Dam |
|---|---|
| Operator | Usace-Omaha |
| City | Chamberlain |
| County | Buffalo County |
| State | South Dakota |
| ZIP | 57325 |
| Coordinates | 44.03840, -99.44630 |
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 | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1964 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1964 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1965 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1965 |
| 6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1965 |
| 7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1966 |
| 8 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.3 MW | Operating | 1966 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 67.2 MW | Operating | 1965 |
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Southwest Power Pool |
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.