123rd largest plant in Utah · 12726th nationally
Stairs is a hydroelectric power plant in Utah with a nameplate capacity of 1.0 MW. It generates roughly 4.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 398 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 48% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Stairs |
|---|---|
| Operator | Pacificorp |
| City | Salt Lake City |
| County | Salt Lake County |
| State | Utah |
| ZIP | 84121 |
| Coordinates | 40.62360, -111.75330 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.0 MW | Operating | 1912 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Pacificorp - East |
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.