128th largest plant in Minnesota · 5502nd nationally
Olmsted Waste Energy is a biomass power plant in Minnesota with a nameplate capacity of 11.3 MW. It generates roughly 39.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 3,765 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 40% reflects intermittent or peaking operation. At 627 lb CO₂/MWh, its emission rate sits below the national grid average of roughly 800 lb/MWh.
Ghost bars are each month's theoretical maximum (11.3 MW nameplate × hours in the month). Filled bars are actual net generation reported to EIA Form 923. The gap between them is capacity factor made visible.
| Plant Name | Olmsted Waste Energy |
|---|---|
| Operator | Olmsted County Public Works |
| City | Rochester |
| County | Olmsted County |
| State | Minnesota |
| ZIP | 55906 |
| Coordinates | 44.02607, -92.43231 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TG3 | Municipal Solid Waste | Municipal Waste | 5.5 MW | Operating | 2010 |
| TG2 | Municipal Solid Waste | Municipal Waste | 2.2 MW | Operating | 1987 |
| TGI | Municipal Solid Waste | Municipal Waste | 1.9 MW | Operating | 1987 |
| DGCAT | Petroleum Liquids | Distillate Oil | 1.7 MW | Standby | 2009 |
| DG1 | Petroleum Liquids | Distillate Oil | 0.8 MW | Retired | 1979 |
| CO₂ | 12.4k metric tons |
|---|---|
| SO₂ | 19 metric tons |
| NOₓ | 55 metric tons |
| CO₂ Rate | 627 lb/MWh |
Annual totals and CO₂ rate reported by EPA eGRID for 2023. Reference averages are approximate U.S.-wide figures from the same dataset.
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.. |
Biomass plants burn wood, agricultural waste, or methane from landfills to generate steam and electricity. They are considered carbon-neutral over long timescales when fuel is sustainably sourced, but they produce particulate emissions similar to coal.