230th largest plant in California · 2263rd nationally
Thermalito is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 115 MW. It generates roughly 294.3k MWh per year — enough to power about 28,025 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 29% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Thermalito |
|---|---|
| Operator | California Dept. Of Water Resources |
| City | Oroville |
| County | Butte County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 95966 |
| Coordinates | 39.51489, -121.63008 |
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 | 32.6 MW | Operating | 1968 |
| 2 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 27.5 MW | Operating | 1968 |
| 3 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 27.5 MW | Operating | 1968 |
| 4 | Hydroelectric Pumped Storage | Water | 27.5 MW | Operating | 1968 |
| 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.