275th largest plant in Michigan · 12726th nationally
Crystal Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in Michigan with a nameplate capacity of 1.0 MW. It generates roughly 5.4k MWh per year — enough to power about 510 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 61% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Crystal Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | City Of Crystal Falls |
| City | Crystal Falls |
| County | Iron County |
| State | Michigan |
| ZIP | 49920 |
| Coordinates | 46.10628, -88.33453 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.4 MW | Operating | 1954 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.3 MW | Operating | 1914 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.3 MW | Operating | 1924 |
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| 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.