80th largest plant in Alaska · 8311th nationally
Ketchikan is a hydroelectric power plant in Alaska with a nameplate capacity of 4.2 MW. It generates roughly 22.4k MWh per year — enough to power about 2,135 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 61% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Ketchikan |
|---|---|
| Operator | Ketchikan Public Utilities |
| City | Ketchikan |
| County | Ketchikan Gateway County |
| State | Alaska |
| ZIP | 99901 |
| Coordinates | 55.34464, -131.63342 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.4 MW | Operating | 1952 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.4 MW | Operating | 1938 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.4 MW | Operating | 1954 |
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.