189th largest plant in North Carolina · 6865th nationally
Turner Shoals is a hydroelectric power plant in North Carolina with a nameplate capacity of 5.4 MW. It generates roughly 10.6k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,010 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 22% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Turner Shoals |
|---|---|
| Operator | Northbrook Carolina Hydro Llc |
| City | Mill Springs |
| County | Polk County |
| State | North Carolina |
| ZIP | 28756 |
| Coordinates | 35.33477, -82.18637 |
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 | 2.7 MW | Out of Service | 1996 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.7 MW | Out of Service | 1996 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Duke Energy Carolinas |
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.