24th largest plant in North Carolina · 918th nationally
Cowans Ford is a hydroelectric power plant in North Carolina with a nameplate capacity of 350 MW. It generates roughly 136.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 12,996 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 4% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Cowans Ford |
|---|---|
| Operator | Duke Energy Carolinas, Llc |
| City | Stanley |
| County | Lincoln County |
| State | North Carolina |
| ZIP | 28164 |
| Coordinates | 35.43460, -80.95880 |
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 | 87.5 MW | Operating | 1963 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 87.5 MW | Operating | 1963 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 87.5 MW | Operating | 1963 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 87.5 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Duke Energy Carolinas |
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.