LOWER GRANITE

How LOWER GRANITE compares

With 810 MW of capacity, LOWER GRANITE ranks 8th among the 126 operating power plants Bywatts maps in Washington and 7th of the 65 operating Hydro plants in the state. It accounts for about 3.8% of Washington's operating Hydro capacity and 2.7% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 26th-largest of the 1,243 operating Hydro plants in the database. Commissioned in 1975, it is older than 60% of the 125 operating Washington plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, USACE NORTHWESTERN DIVISION, runs 5 operating plants in Washington totaling 5,489 MW. It shares Whitman County with 3 other operating plants, including PALOUSE and GRIMES WAY.

EIA-860 lists 6 generators at the site with 810 MW of nameplate capacity, all conventional hydroelectric technology. Net generation was 1,274 GWh in 2024 (an 18% capacity factor), down 26% from 2022. Its generators came online between 1975 and 1978.

Grid neighborhood

The nearest named substation is LOWER GRANITE (500 kV), about 0.7 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 500 kV line owned by BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, under 0.1 miles away. Another 4 operating power plants totaling 504 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is LOWER SNAKE RIVER WIND ENERGY PROJECT (342 MW, Wind).

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