7th largest plant in South Dakota · 978th nationally
Fort Randall is a hydroelectric power plant in South Dakota with a nameplate capacity of 320 MW. It generates roughly 1.5M MWh per year — enough to power about 138,438 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 52% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Fort Randall |
|---|---|
| Operator | Usace-Omaha |
| City | Pickstown |
| County | Charles Mix County |
| State | South Dakota |
| ZIP | 57367 |
| Coordinates | 43.06530, -98.55390 |
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 | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1954 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1954 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1954 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1954 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1955 |
| 6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1955 |
| 7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1955 |
| 8 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 40.0 MW | Operating | 1956 |
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Southwest Power Pool |
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.