99th largest plant in Michigan · 4442nd nationally
Saint Marys Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in Michigan with a nameplate capacity of 23.7 MW. It generates roughly 162.7k MWh per year — enough to power about 15,498 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 78% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Saint Marys Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | Usace-Detroit District |
| City | Sault Ste. Marie |
| County | Chippewa County |
| State | Michigan |
| ZIP | 49783 |
| Coordinates | 46.50625, -84.34927 |
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 | 6.2 MW | Operating | 1951 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 6.2 MW | Operating | 1951 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 6.2 MW | Operating | 1952 |
| 10 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.6 MW | Operating | 1932 |
| 3A | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.5 MW | Operating | 1954 |
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| 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.