72nd largest plant in Wisconsin · 4043rd nationally
Cornell is a hydroelectric power plant in Wisconsin with a nameplate capacity of 35.3 MW. It generates roughly 72.9k MWh per year — enough to power about 6,946 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 24% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Cornell |
|---|---|
| Operator | Northern States Power Co - Minnesota |
| City | Chippewa Falls |
| County | Chippewa County |
| State | Wisconsin |
| ZIP | 54729 |
| Coordinates | 45.16402, -91.15743 |
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 | 11.5 MW | Operating | 1976 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 11.5 MW | Operating | 1976 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 11.5 MW | Operating | 1976 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.8 MW | Operating | 1977 |
| 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.