11th largest plant in Washington · 443rd nationally
Wells is a hydroelectric power plant in Washington with a nameplate capacity of 774 MW. It generates roughly 3.5M MWh per year — enough to power about 333,173 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 52% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Wells |
|---|---|
| Operator | Pud No 1 Of Douglas County |
| City | Chelan |
| County | Chelan County |
| State | Washington |
| ZIP | 98816 |
| Coordinates | 47.94690, -119.86530 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-10 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1969 |
| U-2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 89.0 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 77.4 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| U-8 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 77.4 MW | Out of Service | 1968 |
| U-9 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 77.4 MW | Operating | 1969 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Pud No. 1 Of Douglas County |
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.