417th largest plant in Minnesota · 11524th nationally
Pillager is a hydroelectric power plant in Minnesota with a nameplate capacity of 1.6 MW. It generates roughly 5.7k MWh per year — enough to power about 546 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 41% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Pillager |
|---|---|
| Operator | Allete, Inc. |
| City | Pillager |
| County | Cass County |
| State | Minnesota |
| ZIP | 56473 |
| Coordinates | 46.31603, -94.48494 |
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 | 0.8 MW | Operating | 1917 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.8 MW | Out of Service | 1917 |
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, 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.