PRAIRIE ISLAND

How PRAIRIE ISLAND compares

With 1,186 MW of capacity, PRAIRIE ISLAND ranks 2nd among the 215 operating power plants Bywatts maps in Minnesota and is the largest of the 2 operating Nuclear plants in the state. It accounts for about 63% of Minnesota's operating Nuclear capacity and 7.3% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 43rd-largest of the 55 operating Nuclear plants in the database. Commissioned in 1974, it is older than 70% of the 200 operating Minnesota plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, XCEL ENERGY, runs 14 operating plants in Minnesota totaling 7,978 MW. It shares Goodhue County with 3 other operating plants, including CANNON FALLS ENERGY CENTER and RED WING.

EIA-860 lists 2 generators at the site with 1,186 MW of nameplate capacity, all nuclear technology. Net generation was 6,353 GWh in 2024 (a 61% capacity factor), down 31% from 2022.

Grid neighborhood

The closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 345 kV line owned by NORTHERN STATES POWER CO - MINNESOTA, under 0.1 miles away. Another 6 operating power plants totaling 1,008 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is CANNON FALLS ENERGY CENTER (408 MW, Natural Gas). Within 50 miles are 3 mapped data centers; the nearest is Cologix MIN1 in Minneapolis, about 38.9 miles away.

Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant and transmission line records, EIA-860/923 survey data and PeeringDB data center locations; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology