126th largest plant in California · 1595th nationally
Folsom is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 199 MW. It generates roughly 895.1k MWh per year — enough to power about 85,251 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 51% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Folsom |
|---|---|
| Operator | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| City | Folsom |
| County | Sacramento County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 95630 |
| Coordinates | 38.70675, -121.15844 |
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 | 66.2 MW | Operating | 1955 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 66.2 MW | Operating | 1955 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 66.2 MW | Operating | 1955 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Balancing Authority Of Northern California |
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.