82nd largest plant in Washington · 4316th nationally
Main Canal Headworks is a hydroelectric power plant in Washington with a nameplate capacity of 26.8 MW. It generates roughly 103.6k MWh per year — enough to power about 9,867 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 44% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Main Canal Headworks |
|---|---|
| Operator | Columbia Basin Hydropower |
| City | Coulee City |
| County | Grant County |
| State | Washington |
| ZIP | 99115 |
| Coordinates | 47.61640, -119.29920 |
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 | 26.8 MW | Operating | 1987 |
| Owner | Location | Share |
|---|---|---|
| East Columbia Basin Irr Dist | Othello, WA | 3334.0% |
| Quincy-Columbia Basin Irr Dist | P.o. Box 188 Quincy, WA | 3333.0% |
| South Columbia Basin Irr Dist | Pasco, WA | 3333.0% |
Ownership reported to EIA Form 860. Percentages reflect reported generator-level ownership share, averaged when a plant has multiple generators.
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Avista Corporation |
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.