4th largest plant in Montana · 815th nationally
Hungry Horse is a hydroelectric power plant in Montana with a nameplate capacity of 428 MW. It generates roughly 650.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 61,920 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 17% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Hungry Horse |
|---|---|
| Operator | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| City | Columbia Falls |
| County | Flathead County |
| State | Montana |
| ZIP | 59919 |
| Coordinates | 48.34152, -114.01443 |
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 | 107 MW | Operating | 1952 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 107 MW | Operating | 1952 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 107 MW | Operating | 1953 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 107 MW | Operating | 1953 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Bonneville 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.