346th largest plant in Minnesota · 9517th nationally
Brainerd Public Utilities is a hydroelectric power plant in Minnesota with a nameplate capacity of 2.9 MW. It generates roughly 10.9k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,034 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 43% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Brainerd Public Utilities |
|---|---|
| Operator | Brainerd Public Utilities |
| City | Brainerd |
| County | Crow Wing County |
| State | Minnesota |
| ZIP | 56401 |
| Coordinates | 46.37580, -94.18170 |
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 | 0.6 MW | Operating | 1917 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.6 MW | Operating | 1917 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.6 MW | Out of Service | 1936 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.6 MW | Out of Service | 1940 |
| VPLS | Conventional Steam Coal | Bituminous Coal | 0.6 MW | Retired | 1959 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.5 MW | Out of Service | 1936 |
| 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.