PRIEST RAPIDS

How PRIEST RAPIDS compares

With 956 MW of capacity, PRIEST RAPIDS ranks 7th among the 126 operating power plants Bywatts maps in Washington and 6th of the 65 operating Hydro plants in the state. It accounts for about 4.5% of Washington's operating Hydro capacity and 3.2% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 22nd-largest of the 1,243 operating Hydro plants in the database. Commissioned in 1959, it is older than 71% of the 125 operating Washington plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, PUD NO 2 OF GRANT COUNTY, runs 4 operating plants in Washington totaling 1,960 MW. It shares Grant County with 6 other operating plants, including GRAND COULEE and WANAPUM.

EIA-860 lists 10 generators at the site with 950 MW of nameplate capacity, all conventional hydroelectric technology. Net generation was 3,838 GWh in 2024 (a 46% capacity factor), down 21% from 2022. Its generators came online between 1959 and 1961.

Grid neighborhood

The nearest named substation is MIDWAY (230 kV), about 6.2 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 230 kV line owned by PUD NO 2 OF GRANT COUNTY, under 0.1 miles away. Another 2 operating power plants totaling 1,079 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is WANAPUM (989 MW, Hydro).

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