680th largest plant in North Carolina · 8730th nationally
Lake Lure is a hydroelectric power plant in North Carolina with a nameplate capacity of 3.6 MW. It generates roughly 3.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 303 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 10% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Lake Lure |
|---|---|
| Operator | Lake Lure Town Of |
| City | Lake Lure |
| County | Rutherford County |
| State | North Carolina |
| ZIP | 28746 |
| Coordinates | 35.42591, -82.18400 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.4 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.2 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Duke Energy Carolinas |
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.