497th largest plant in California · 3967th nationally
Union Valley is a hydroelectric power plant in California with a nameplate capacity of 38.6 MW. It generates roughly 168.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 16,017 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 50% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Union Valley |
|---|---|
| Operator | Sacramento Municipal Util Dist |
| City | Fresh Pond |
| County | El Dorado County |
| State | California |
| ZIP | 95725 |
| Coordinates | 38.86429, -120.44433 |
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 | 38.6 MW | Operating | 1963 |
| 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.