57th largest plant in Montana · 8349th nationally
Big Fork is a hydroelectric power plant in Montana with a nameplate capacity of 4.1 MW. It generates roughly 25.1k MWh per year — enough to power about 2,390 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 70% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Big Fork |
|---|---|
| Operator | Pacificorp |
| City | Big Fork |
| County | Flathead County |
| State | Montana |
| ZIP | 59911 |
| Coordinates | 48.05920, -114.07080 |
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 | 1.7 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.7 MW | Operating | 1928 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.7 MW | Operating | 1910 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Pacificorp - East |
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.