151st largest plant in California · 1780th nationally
Pine Flat is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 165 MW. It generates roughly 782.1k MWh per year — enough to power about 74,481 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 54% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Pine Flat |
|---|---|
| Operator | Kings River Conservation Dist |
| City | Piedra |
| County | Fresno County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 93649 |
| Coordinates | 36.83260, -119.32700 |
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 | 55.0 MW | Operating | 1984 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 55.0 MW | Operating | 1984 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 55.0 MW | Operating | 1984 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 3.8 MW | Regulatory | — |
| 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.