List of power stations in North Dakota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Coal: 22,578 (53.1%)
- Wind: 15,378 (36.2%)
- Natural gas: 2,268 (5.34%)
- Hydroelectric: 2,194 (5.16%)
- Petroleum: 31 (0.07%)
- Other gases: 35 (0.08%)
This is a list of electricity-generating power stations in the U.S. state of North Dakota, sorted by type and name. In 2024, North Dakota had a total summer capacity of 9.7 GW through all of its power plants, and a net generation of 42,557 GWh.[2] In 2025, the electrical energy generation mix was 53.1% coal, 36.2% wind, 5.3% natural gas, and 5.2% hydroelectric. Petroleum liquids and other gases generated most of the remaining 0.2%.[1]
North Dakota contains the world's largest known deposit of lignite coal, and hosted 4% of U.S. coal extraction in year 2019. It ranked second behind the state of Texas in U.S. crude oil extraction.[3] Natural gas extraction has been growing as well, and exceeded 1 trillion cubic feet for the first time.[4]
North Dakota oil extraction included the flaring of over 200 billion cubic feet of associated petroleum gas in year 2019.[5] Operations were widely distributed throughout the Bakken Formation which underlays the northwest region of the state. This record-high volume of wasted natural gas could have generated over 30,000 GWh of electrical energy, an amount equal to three-quarters of the state's total generation.[6]
Download coordinates as:
North Dakota had no utility-scale plants that used fissile material as a fuel in 2019.[1]
Fossil-fuel power stations
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference.[7]
Coal and lignite
A useful map[8] of active and retiring coal generation plants is provided by the Sierra Club.
Natural gas and petroleum
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) | Fuel type | Generation type | Number of units | Refs | Year opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek Plant | McLean County | 47°22′40″N 101°09′26″W / 47.3778°N 101.1571°W / 47.3778; -101.1571 (Coal Creek) | 6.0 | Petroleum | Reciprocating engine (x2) | 2 | 2016 | ||
| Grafton Plant | Walsh County | 48°25′48″N 97°24′12″W / 48.4300°N 97.4033°W / 48.4300; -97.4033 (Grafton) | 4.0 | Petroleum | Reciprocating engine (x4) | 4 | 1937/1949/ 1956 | ||
| Heskett Station | Morton County | 46°51′57″N 100°53′14″W / 46.8657°N 100.8873°W / 46.8657; -100.8873 (Heskett Station) | 178 | Gas | Simple cycle (x2) | 2 | [16][17] | 2014/2024 | Not to be confused with Heskett 1 & 2 coal-fired units (retired 2022, demolished in 2023)[18] |
| Hillsboro Plant | Traill County | 47°23′49″N 97°03′38″W / 47.3970°N 97.0606°W / 47.3970; -97.0606 (Hillsboro) | 4.0 | Petroleum | Reciprocating engine (x2) | 2 | 2002 | ||
| Jamestown GT | Stutsman County | 46°54′21″N 98°39′44″W / 46.9057°N 98.6622°W / 46.9057; -98.6622 (Jamestown GT) | 41.7 | Petroleum | Simple cycle (x2) | 2 | 1976/1978 | ||
| Lonesome Creek Station | McKenzie County | 47°47′48″N 103°34′43″W / 47.7967°N 103.5786°W / 47.7967; -103.5786 (Lonesome Creek Station) | 200 | Gas | Simple cycle (x5) | 5 | [19] | 2013/2015/ 2017 | |
| Pioneer Generating Station | Williams County | 48°13′57″N 103°57′10″W / 48.2326°N 103.9528°W / 48.2326; -103.9528 (Pioneer Station) | 337 | Gas, petroleum | Simple cycle (x3) reciprocating engine (x12) | 15 | [20] | 2014/2017 | |
| Spiritwood Station | Stutsman County | 46°55′35″N 98°29′59″W / 46.9264°N 98.4997°W / 46.9264; -98.4997 (Spiritwood Station) | 100 | Gas | Steam turbine | 1 | [21][22] | 2014 | Originally coal-fired. Convert to gas in 2017.[23] |
Renewable power stations
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference.[7]
Hydroelectric
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) | Refs | Year opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrison Hydro Power Plant | Mercer County | 47°29′40″N 101°24′41″W / 47.4945°N 101.4115°W / 47.4945; -101.4115 (Garrison Hydroelectric) | 510 | [24] | 1956/1960 | USACE owned and managed[25] |
Wind
Also see wind industry of North Dakota map.[26]
Solar
There are currently no operating utility-scale solar farms in North Dakota. National Grid Renewables, formerly known as Geronimo Energy, has been developing several potential projects within the state, including the 200 MW Harmony Solar Project in Cass County and the 128 MW Wild Spring Solar Project in Pennington County.[44][45]
References
- 1 2 3 "Electricity Data Browser, Net generation for all sectors, North Dakota, Fuel Type-Check all, Annual, 2001–25". www.eia.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ "North Dakota Electricity Profile". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ "North Dakota Electricity Profile Analysis". U.S. EIA. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Natural gas gross withdrawals - Gross Withdrawals data series". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ↑ "Natural gas gross withdrawals - Vented and Flared data series". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ↑ "FAQ-How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatthour of electricity?". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- 1 2 Energy Information Administration (September 15, 2020). "Form EIA-860 detailed data with previous form data (EIA-860A/860B)". eia.gov. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020.
- ↑ Sierra Club - Beyond Coal
- ↑ "Drayton Factory". American Crystal Sugar Company. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Hillsboro Factory". American Crystal Sugar Company. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Antelope Valley Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Coal Creek Station". Great River Energy. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Coyote Station". Minnkota Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Leland Olds Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Milton R. Young Station". Minnkota Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Montana-Dakota Utilities' Heskett 4 Plant Ready To Produce Power". Montana-Dakota Utilities. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ↑ "MDU Electric Generation". Montana-Dakota Utilities. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ↑ "Montana-Dakota Utilities R.M. Heskett Closure and Post Closure". Montana-Dakota Utilities. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ↑ "Lonesome Creek Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Pioneer Generating Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Spiritwood Station". Minnkota Power Cooperative. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Spiritwood Station". U.S. EIA. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ Keith Norman (May 8, 2020). "Spiritwood station converting to natural gas". Jamestown Sun. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Garrison Dam and Power Plant". Great Plains Energy Corridor/Bismarck State College. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Garrison Dam & Lake Sakakawea - Hydropower at Garrison". US Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "WIND project map" (PDF). Wind Industry of North Dakota. July 1, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Ashtabula Wind Energy Center". www.renewable-technology.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Aurora Wind Farm". Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ↑ "Baldwin Wind Farm". openei.org. NREL/U.S.DOE. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Bison Wind Energy Center". Minnesota Power. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Minnesota Power wind farm in North Dakota is complete". The Duluth News Tribune. January 19, 2015.
- ↑ Stephanie Rank (July 19, 2016). "Xcel Energy opens 19,000 acre Border Winds Farm". www.kfyrtv.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ Stephanie Rank (September 20, 2016). "NextEra Energy nears completion of Brady Wind Farm project in ND". www.kfyrtv.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Electric Generation - Cedar Hills Wind". Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ "FERC Electric Infrastructure Update". Electric Light and Power. PennWell Corporation. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
- ↑ Paul Dvorak (December 1, 2012). "Xcel Energy's 200 MW Courtenay Wind Farm now online". www.windpowerengineering.com.
- ↑ "Wind farm approved for Tioga". WDAY. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Enel's Lindahl Wind Farm Kicks Off Operations In North Dakota". nawindpower.com. Zackin Publications, Inc. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Luverne Wind Farm". Otter Tail Power Company. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.
- ↑ "New Frontier Wind Comes Online in North Dakota". North American Windpower. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ↑ "Electric Generation - Thunder Spirit Wind". Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ↑ Nordex to supply 43, 2.5 MW turbines for Thunder Spirit project in North Dakota
- ↑ Betsy Lillian (January 3, 2017). "Thunder Spirit Wind Farm To Grow In North Dakota". nawindpower.com.
- ↑ Patrick Springer (February 27, 2019). "North Dakota's first commercial solar energy project gets OK". inforum.com.
- ↑ "Basin Electric has solar purchase agreement with Geronimo". The Washington Times. February 19, 2020.
