160th largest plant in Virginia · 6151st nationally
Buck Hydro is a hydroelectric power plant in Virginia with a nameplate capacity of 8.4 MW. It generates roughly 38.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 3,662 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 52% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Buck Hydro |
|---|---|
| Operator | Appalachian Power Co |
| City | Ivanhoe |
| County | Carroll County |
| State | Virginia |
| ZIP | 24350 |
| Coordinates | 36.80823, -80.93871 |
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 | 2.8 MW | Operating | 1912 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.8 MW | Operating | 1912 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.8 MW | Operating | 1912 |
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Pjm Interconnection, Llc |
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.