198th largest plant in Maine · 9652nd nationally
Orono Hydro Station is a hydroelectric power plant in Maine with a nameplate capacity of 2.7 MW. It generates roughly 11.6k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,109 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 49% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Orono Hydro Station |
|---|---|
| Operator | Brookfield Black Bear Hydro, Llc |
| City | Orono |
| County | Penobscot County |
| State | Maine |
| ZIP | 04461 |
| Coordinates | 44.88030, -68.66470 |
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 | 0.8 MW | Operating | 2009 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.8 MW | Operating | 2009 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.6 MW | Operating | 2009 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.5 MW | Operating | 2009 |
| NERC Region | NPCC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Iso New England Inc. |
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.