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Power Plants in Washington

All 139 operable plants · EIA inventory, May 2026.

Total capacity
31.7 GW
15th largest of 51 states
Plants
139
136 in service
Largest plant
6,809 MW
Grand Coulee

Capacity by fuel

Washington generating capacity by fuel
FuelCapacitySharePlants
Hydro21,776 MW68.7%73
Natural gas4,048 MW12.8%16
Wind3,387 MW10.7%23
Nuclear1,200 MW3.8%1
Coal730 MW2.3%1
Other299 MW0.9%16
Solar268 MW0.8%7
Battery storage3.5 MW0.0%2

Nameplate capacity — what the fleet could produce running flat out — not what it actually generated. A plant is filed under the fuel carrying most of its capacity. See what Washington actually generated →

Largest plants in Washington

#PlantFuelCapacityOnline
1Grand CouleeGrant CountyHydro6,809 MW1941
2Chief JosephDouglas CountyHydro2,456 MW1955
3Rocky ReachChelan CountyHydro1,349 MW1961
4WanapumGrant CountyHydro1,220 MW2011
5Columbia Generating StationBenton CountyNuclear1,200 MW1984
6BoundaryPend Oreille CountyHydro1,160 MW1967
7Priest RapidsGrant CountyHydro950 MW1959
8WellsChelan CountyHydro867 MW1967
9Little GooseColumbia CountyHydro810 MW1970
10Lower GraniteWhitman CountyHydro810 MW1975

Washington's generating fleet in context

Washington's generating fleet holds 31.7 GW of nameplate capacity across 136 plants in service, ranking 15th among the 51 largest US fleets. Hydro dominates at 68.7% of the state's capacity with 21,776 MW across 73 plants. Natural gas provides 12.8% with 4,048 MW, wind contributes 10.7% with 3,387 MW, and nuclear accounts for 3.8% with 1,200 MW. Coal, solar, and other sources make up the remainder.

The largest single facility is Grand Coulee, a hydro plant with 6,809 MW of capacity that came online in 1941. Chief Joseph follows with 2,456 MW, also hydro and dating to 1955. Rocky Reach, another hydro plant from 1961, holds 1,349 MW, while Wanapum, which came online in 2011, provides 1,220 MW. Columbia Generating Station, the state's nuclear facility, offers 1,200 MW and entered service in 1984.

The fleet spans nearly a century of equipment. The oldest plant still listed is Chelan, which first came online in September 1927. The newest addition, Cushman 1, entered service in June 2026. This range reflects an aging hydro-based system supplemented by more recent natural gas, wind, and nuclear capacity.

Written from the EIA figures on this page, covering data through May 2026.

Every plant in Washington, by fuel

Hydro73 plants · 21,776 MW

All US hydro plants →
Hydro power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Grand CouleeGrant6,809 MW331941
Chief JosephDouglas2,456 MW271955
Rocky ReachChelan1,349 MW111961
WanapumGrant1,220 MW102011
BoundaryPend Oreille1,160 MW61967
Priest RapidsGrant950 MW101959
WellsChelan867 MW101967
Little GooseColumbia810 MW61970
Lower GraniteWhitman810 MW61975
Lower MonumentalWalla Walla810 MW61969
Rock IslandChelan629 MW191931
Ice HarborWalla Walla603 MW61962
RossWhatcom450 MW41952
MossyrockLewis300 MW21968
Swift 1Skamania240 MW31958
GorgeWhatcom207 MW41929
DiabloWhatcom182 MW41936
MayfieldLewis162 MW41963
MerwinCowlitz136 MW41931
YaleCowlitz134 MW21953
H M JacksonSnohomish112 MW41984
Upper BakerWhatcom105 MW21959
Lower BakerSkagit104 MW21960
Summer Falls Power PlantGrant92 MW21985
Box CanyonPend Oreille90 MW41955
Cushman 2Mason85 MW51930
Swift 2Cowlitz72 MW21958
Cowlitz FallsLewis70 MW21994
Long LakeLincoln70 MW42015
LaGrandePierce64 MW51945
ChelanChelan59 MW21927
AlderPierce51 MW21945
Cushman 1Mason50 MW22026
Little Falls (WA)Lincoln43 MW42010
Snoqualmie 2King39 MW21957
Nine MileSpokane38 MW41994
Cedar Falls (WA)King30 MW21929
PackwoodLewis28 MW11964
Main Canal HeadworksGrant27 MW11987
Twin Falls HydroKing24 MW21989
ElectronPierce23 MW41929
Upriver Dam Hydro PlantSpokane18 MW51936
South Fork ToltKing17 MW11995
Monroe StreetSpokane15 MW11992
Tieton Dam Hydro Electric ProjectYakima14 MW22006
RozaYakima13 MW11958
SnoqualmieKing13 MW51998
WynoocheeGrays Harbor13 MW11994
ChandlerBenton12 MW21956
Koma KulshanWhatcom12 MW11990
YelmThurston12 MW31930
McNary Dam Fish Attraction ProjectBenton10 MW11997
Upper FallsSpokane10 MW12022
Youngs Creek Hydroelectric ProjectSnohomish7.5 MW12011
Russell D SmithAdams6.1 MW11982
Calligan Creek Hydroelectric ProjectKing6.0 MW12018
Hancock Creek Hydroelectric ProjectKing6.0 MW12018
Weeks FallsKing4.3 MW11990
Black CreekKing3.7 MW11994
Drop 2 (WA)Yakima2.5 MW11942
NewhalemWhatcom2.3 MW11970
Potholes East Canal 66.0Franklin2.3 MW11985
Eltopia Branch Canal 4.6Franklin2.2 MW11983
Twin ReservoirsWalla Walla2.2 MW11988
Meyers FallsStevens1.8 MW42006
CowicheYakima1.7 MW11987
Drop 3 (WA)Yakima1.6 MW21932
Orchard Avenue 1Yakima1.6 MW21987
Rocky Brook HydroelectricJefferson1.6 MW11985
Sheep Creek HydroStevens1.6 MW21986
Nooksack HydroWhatcom1.5 MW12006
Lilliwaup Falls GeneratingMason1.4 MW71986
SkookumchuckThurston1.0 MW11990

Natural gas16 plants · 4,048 MW

All US natural gas plants →
Natural gas power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Grays Harbor Energy FacilityGrays Harbor715 MW32008
Chehalis Generating FacilityLewis593 MW32003
Fredonia (WA)Skagit376 MW41984
Mint Farm Generating StationCowlitz319 MW22008
Frederickson Power LPPierce318 MW22002
Goldendale Generating StationKlickitat303 MW22004
Ferndale Generating StationWhatcom286 MW31994
River Road Gen PlantClark248 MW11997
FredericksonPierce178 MW21981
EncogenWhatcom176 MW41993
WhitehornWhatcom169 MW21981
HF Sinclair Puget Sound RefiningSkagit140 MW31991
Sumas Power PlantWhatcom126 MW21993
Northeast (WA)Spokane62 MW11978
Boulder ParkSpokane25 MW62002
University of Washington Power PlantKing15 MW71993

Wind23 plants · 3,387 MW

All US wind plants →
Wind power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Lower Snake River Wind Energy ProjectGarfield343 MW12012
Wild HorseKittitas273 MW32006
Tucannon River Wind FarmColumbia267 MW12014
Windy Flats Wind ProjectKlickitat262 MW12009
Marengo Wind PlantColumbia234 MW22007
White Creek Wind FarmKlickitat204 MW12007
Big Horn Wind ProjectKlickitat199 MW12006
FPL Energy Vansycle LLC (WA)Walla Walla177 MW12001
Hopkins Ridge WindColumbia157 MW22005
Juniper Canyon I Wind ProjectKlickitat151 MW12011
Rattlesnake FlatAdams144 MW12020
Washington WindKlickitat136 MW12009
Skookumchuck Wind FacilityThurston136 MW12020
PalouseWhitman105 MW12012
Goodnoe HillsKlickitat103 MW12008
Sagebrush Power PartnersKittitas101 MW12010
Harvest Wind ProjectKlickitat99 MW12009
Nine CanyonBenton96 MW12002
Vantage Wind Energy LLCKittitas90 MW12010
Big Horn Wind IIKlickitat50 MW12011
Linden Wind Energy ProjectKlickitat50 MW12010
Coastal Energy ProjectGrays Harbor6.0 MW12010
Swauk Wind LLCKittitas4.3 MW12012

Nuclear1 plant · 1,200 MW

All US nuclear plants →
Nuclear power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Columbia Generating StationBenton1,200 MW11984

Coal1 plant · 730 MW

All US coal plants →
Coal power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Transalta Centralia GenerationLewis730 MW11973

Other16 plants · 299 MW

All US other plants →
Other power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Nippon Dynawave Packaging Longview WACowlitz62 MW41948
Kettle Falls Generating StationStevens58 MW21983
Longview FibreCowlitz45 MW21958
Sierra Pacific Burlington FacilitySkagit28 MW12007
Spokane Waste to EnergySpokane26 MW11991
Sierra Pacific AberdeenGrays Harbor18 MW12003
Cosmo Specialty Fibers PlantGrays Harbor15 MW21957
McKinley Paper Co. - Washington MillClallam13 MW12022
Port Townsend PaperJefferson7.5 MW11986
Cedar HillsKing5.4 MW182009
West Point Treatment PlantKing4.6 MW22012
DarringtonSnohomish4.5 MW12007
LRI LFGTE FacilityPierce4.5 MW32013
Grimes WayWhitman4.0 MW32005
Crystal MountainPierce2.7 MW11969
Biotech LS 0836Whitman1.0 MW12009

Solar7 plants · 268 MW

All US solar plants →
Solar power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Lund Hill SolarKlickitat150 MW12022
Goose Prairie SolarYakima80 MW12024
Adams Nielson SolarAdams19 MW12018
Camas Solar ProjectKittitas5.0 MW12022
Penstemon Solar ProjectKittitas5.0 MW12022
Urtica Solar ProjectKittitas5.0 MW12022
Horn Rapids Solar, Storage and TrainingBenton4.2 MW22020

Battery storage2 plants · 3.5 MW

All US battery storage plants →
Battery storage power plants in Washington, largest first
PlantCountyCapacityUnitsOnline
Glacier Battery StorageWhatcom2.0 MW12016
Arlington MicrogridSnohomish1.5 MW22019

Sorted by nameplate capacity within each fuel. “Online” is the year the plant’s earliest surviving unit entered service.

Frequently asked questions

How many power plants are there in Washington?
Washington has 139 operable power plants with a combined nameplate capacity of 31.7 GW, the 15th largest generating fleet of the 51 states and DC. 136 of them are currently in service.
What is the largest power plant in Washington?
Grand Coulee in Grant County, a hydro plant with 6,809 MW of capacity across 33 generating units, first online in March 1941.
What fuel do Washington's power plants use?
Hydro accounts for the largest share of Washington's generating capacity — 21,776 MW, or 68.7% of the total, across 73 plants. Natural gas follows at 12.8%, Wind follows at 10.7%, Nuclear follows at 3.8%. Note this is capacity, not generation — what the fleet could produce, not what it did.
What is the oldest power plant in Washington?
Chelan is the oldest still operable, with its earliest unit entering service in September 1927. The most recent addition is Cushman 1, online since June 2026.