18th largest plant in California · 488th nationally
Shasta is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 714 MW. It generates roughly 1.7M MWh per year — enough to power about 165,700 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 28% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Shasta |
|---|---|
| Operator | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| City | Redding |
| County | Shasta County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 96003 |
| Coordinates | 40.71746, -122.42227 |
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 | 142 MW | Operating | 1949 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 142 MW | Operating | 1948 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 142 MW | Operating | 1944 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 142 MW | Operating | 1944 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 142 MW | Operating | 1948 |
| S1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.0 MW | Operating | 1944 |
| S2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.0 MW | Operating | 1944 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Balancing Authority Of Northern California |
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.