💧 Hydroelectric Power Plants in South Dakota
South Dakota operates 4 hydroelectric power plants totaling 1,648 MW of nameplate capacity. Annual generation: 4.3M MWh.
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.
Plants4operating
Capacity1,648 MWnameplate
Generation4.3M MWhannual
All South Dakota hydroelectric plants
| Plant | City | County | Capacity | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oahe | Pierre | Hughes County | 786 MW | Usace-Omaha |
| Big Bend Dam | Chamberlain | Buffalo County | 538 MW | Usace-Omaha |
| Fort Randall | Pickstown | Charles Mix County | 320 MW | Usace-Omaha |
| Spearfish Hydro | Spearfish | Lawrence County | 4 MW | City Of Spearfish |