💧 Hydroelectric Power Plants in Tennessee
Tennessee operates 29 hydroelectric power plants totaling 4,218 MW of nameplate capacity. Annual generation: 8.0M 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.
Plants29operating
Capacity4,218 MWnameplate
Generation8.0M MWhannual
All Tennessee hydroelectric plants
| Plant | City | County | Capacity | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon Mountain | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | 1,714 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Pickwick Landing Dam | Pickwick Dam | Hardin County | 240 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Watts Bar Hydro | Spring City | Rhea County | 175 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Chickamauga | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | 160 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Calderwood | Tallassee | Blount County | 157 MW | Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower Lp |
| Fort Loudoun | Lenoir City | Loudon County | 153 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Douglas Dam | Dandridge | Sevier County | 151 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Center Hill | Lancaster | Dekalb County | 140 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Cherokee Dam | Rudledge | Jefferson County | 135 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Norris Dam | Norris | Anderson County | 131 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Boone Dam | Kingsport | Sullivan County | 106 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Nickajack | New Hope | Marion County | 104 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Old Hickory | Hendersonville | Sumner County | 104 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Cordell Hull | Carthage | Smith County | 100 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Apalachia | Reliance | Polk County | 94 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Melton Hill | Lenoir City | Loudon County | 72 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Fort Patrick Henry | Kingsport | Sullivan County | 59 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Watauga | Elizabethton | Carter County | 58 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Dale Hollow | Celina | Clay County | 54 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Chilhowee | Tallassee | Blount County | 50 MW | Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower Lp |
| Tims Ford | Winchester | Franklin County | 46 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| South Holston | Bristol | Sullivan County | 39 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Cheatham | Ashland City | Dickson County | 36 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Great Falls (Tn) | Rock Island | Warren County | 34 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Ocoee 3 | Benton | Polk County | 29 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| J P Priest | Nashville | Davidson County | 28 MW | Usce-Nashville District |
| Ocoee 2 | Benton | Polk County | 23 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Ocoee 1 | Benton | Polk County | 19 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Wilbur | Elizabethon | Carter County | 11 MW | Tennessee Valley Authority |