171st largest plant in Virginia · 6865th nationally
Fries Hydroelectric Project is a hydroelectric power plant in Virginia with a nameplate capacity of 5.4 MW. It generates roughly 19.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,856 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 41% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Fries Hydroelectric Project |
|---|---|
| Operator | Central Rivers Power Us, Llc |
| City | Fries |
| County | Grayson County |
| State | Virginia |
| ZIP | 24330 |
| Coordinates | 36.71510, -80.98562 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.4 MW | Operating | 1981 |
| GEN1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.0 MW | Operating | 1933 |
| GEN2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.8 MW | Operating | 1933 |
| GEN3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.2 MW | Operating | 1933 |
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Pjm Interconnection, Llc |
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.