27th largest plant in Georgia · 821st nationally
Hartwell Lake is a hydroelectric power plant in Georgia with a nameplate capacity of 420 MW. It generates roughly 378.9k MWh per year — enough to power about 36,087 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 10% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Hartwell Lake |
|---|---|
| Operator | Usce-Savannah District |
| City | Hartwell |
| County | Hart County |
| State | Georgia |
| ZIP | 30643 |
| Coordinates | 34.35640, -82.82190 |
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 | 85.0 MW | Operating | 1962 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 85.0 MW | Operating | 1962 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 85.0 MW | Out of Service | 1962 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 85.0 MW | Operating | 1962 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 80.0 MW | Operating | 1983 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Southeastern Power Administration |
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.