4th largest plant in Michigan · 81st nationally
Dan E Karn is a coal power plant in Michigan with a nameplate capacity of 1,946 MW. It generates roughly 613.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 58,397 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 4% reflects intermittent or peaking operation. At 2574 lb CO₂/MWh, its emission rate sits above the national grid average of roughly 800 lb/MWh.
Ghost bars are each month's theoretical maximum (1,946 MW nameplate × hours in the month). Filled bars are actual net generation reported to EIA Form 923. The gap between them is capacity factor made visible.
| Plant Name | Dan E Karn |
|---|---|
| Operator | Consumers Energy Co - (Mi) |
| City | Essexville |
| County | Bay County |
| State | Michigan |
| ZIP | 48732 |
| Coordinates | 43.64500, -83.84007 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | Natural Gas | 710 MW | Operating | 1977 |
| 3 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | Natural Gas | 693 MW | Operating | 1975 |
| 1A | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 136 MW | Retired | 1959 |
| 1B | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 136 MW | Retired | 1959 |
| 2A | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 136 MW | Retired | 1961 |
| 2B | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 136 MW | Retired | 1961 |
| CO₂ | 789.1k metric tons |
|---|---|
| SO₂ | 241 metric tons |
| NOₓ | 261 metric tons |
| CO₂ Rate | 2574 lb/MWh |
Annual totals and CO₂ rate reported by EPA eGRID for 2023. Reference averages are approximate U.S.-wide figures from the same dataset.
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.. |
Coal plants burn pulverized coal to boil water and spin steam turbines. They emit substantial CO₂, SO₂, and NOₓ along with mercury and particulate matter. Modern units include scrubbers and selective catalytic reduction; older units are increasingly being retired or converted to natural gas as economics shift.