1630th largest plant in California · 12336th nationally
Nelson Creek is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 1.2 MW. It generates roughly 2.6k MWh per year — enough to power about 245 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 25% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Nelson Creek |
|---|---|
| Operator | Nelson Creek Power Inc |
| City | Big Bend |
| County | Shasta County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 96011 |
| Coordinates | 41.02889, -121.89235 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1296 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.2 MW | Operating | 1989 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | California Independent System Operator |
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.