151st largest plant in Minnesota · 6121st nationally
St. Cloud Hydro is a hydroelectric power plant in Minnesota with a nameplate capacity of 8.6 MW. It generates roughly 37.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 3,540 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 49% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | St. Cloud Hydro |
|---|---|
| Operator | St. Cloud Hydroelectric Generation Facility |
| City | St Cloud |
| County | Stearns County |
| State | Minnesota |
| ZIP | 56301 |
| Coordinates | 45.54759, -94.14858 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN#1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 4.3 MW | Operating | 1988 |
| GEN#2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 4.3 MW | Operating | 1988 |
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| 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.