745th largest plant in California · 5227th nationally
Rio Bravo Hydro Project is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 14.0 MW. It generates roughly 30.7k MWh per year — enough to power about 2,923 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 25% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Rio Bravo Hydro Project |
|---|---|
| Operator | Olcese Water District |
| City | Bakersfield |
| County | Kern County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 93302 |
| Coordinates | 35.43000, -118.82220 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNT1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Standby | 1989 |
| UNT2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Standby | 1989 |
| 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.