115th largest plant in Wisconsin · 6320th nationally
Big Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in Wisconsin with a nameplate capacity of 7.7 MW. It generates roughly 32.8k MWh per year — enough to power about 3,119 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 49% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Big Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | Northern States Power Co - Minnesota |
| City | Glen Fora |
| County | Rusk County |
| State | Wisconsin |
| ZIP | 54563 |
| Coordinates | 45.49167, -91.04690 |
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 | 2.6 MW | Operating | 1922 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.6 MW | Operating | 1922 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.5 MW | Operating | 1993 |
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.. |
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.