Hydroelectric power plants in North Carolina
35 operating hydroelectric power plants in North Carolina with 1,871 MW of hydroelectric capacity, largest first. From EIA-860M, August 2026.
Plants
35
Hydroelectric capacity
1,871 MW
Net generation, 2025
4.14 TWh
34 of 35 plants reported
Largest hydroelectric power plants in North Carolina
| # | Plant | Hydroelectric MW | GWh, 2025 | Capacity factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cowans FordLincoln County | 350 | 125 | 4.1% |
| 2 | Fontana DamSwain County | 255 | 900 | 40.3% |
| 3 | GastonHalifax County | 178 | 226 | 14.5% |
| 4 | CheoahGraham County | 140 | 472 | 38.5% |
| 5 | Narrows (NC)Stanly County | 109 | 363 | 38.1% |
| 6 | WaltersHaywood County | 108 | 289 | 30.6% |
| 7 | Roanoke RapidsHalifax County | 100 | 187 | 21.4% |
| 8 | TilleryMontgomery County | 84 | 118 | 16.0% |
| 9 | Hiwassee DamCherokee County · Pumped storage and hydro | 71 | 257 | – |
| 10 | Mountain IslandGaston County | 60 | 90.0 | 17.1% |
| 11 | SanteetlahGraham County | 45 | 130 | 33.0% |
| 12 | NantahalaMacon County | 43 | 188 | 49.8% |
| 13 | Tuckertown HydroMontgomery County | 42 | 95.7 | 26.0% |
| 14 | Oxford DamCatawba County | 36 | 86.5 | 27.4% |
| 15 | High Rock HydroDavidson County | 33 | 99.7 | 34.5% |
| 16 | Falls HydroStanly County | 31 | 93.6 | 34.0% |
| 17 | BridgewaterBurke County | 28 | 28.0 | 11.5% |
| 18 | Lookout ShoalsIredell County | 26 | 82.5 | 36.5% |
| 19 | RhodhissCaldwell County | 26 | 55.9 | 25.0% |
| 20 | BlewettAnson County · Oil and hydro | 25 | 98.0 | 11.8% |
| 21 | ThorpeJackson County | 22 | 59.8 | 31.6% |
| 22 | ChatugeClay County | 13 | 18.9 | 16.4% |
| 23 | Tennessee CreekJackson County | 11 | 33.8 | 35.7% |
| 24 | Bear Creek DamJackson County | 9.0 | −0.0 | – |
| 25 | Cedar CliffJackson County | 6.4 | 11.6 | 20.6% |
| 26 | Marshall DamMadison County | 5.0 | −0.3 | – |
| 27 | Lake LureRutherford County | 3.6 | – | – |
| 28 | TuckasegeeJackson County | 3.0 | 4.5 | 17.2% |
| 29 | High Shoals Hydro (NC)Lincoln County | 1.8 | 3.3 | 20.7% |
| 30 | MissionClay County | 1.8 | 7.0 | 44.7% |
| 31 | Metropolitan Sewerage DistrictBuncombe County | 1.6 | 3.5 | 16.6% |
| 32 | Haw River HydroAlamance County | 1.5 | 3.5 | 26.9% |
| 33 | Queens CreekMacon County | 1.4 | 2.7 | 21.8% |
| 34 | Avalon HydropowerRockingham County | 1.2 | 3.1 | 29.7% |
| 35 | Franklin (NC)Macon County | 1.0 | 2.7 | 30.6% |
Projects where hydroelectric is the largest fuel or at least a fifth of nameplate capacity. MW is hydroelectric nameplate only; net generation covers the whole project. Source: EIA-860M August 2026, published 2026-09-24, and EIA-923 2025. Page updated 2026-10-04. Data sources
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