229th largest plant in California · 2258th nationally
R C Kirkwood is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 116 MW. It generates roughly 473.9k MWh per year — enough to power about 45,132 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 47% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | R C Kirkwood |
|---|---|
| Operator | City & County Of San Francisco |
| City | Groveland |
| County | Tuolumne County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 95321 |
| Coordinates | 37.87767, -119.95323 |
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 | 45.4 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 45.4 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 36.5 MW | Operating | 1987 |
| 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.