Power plants in the MISO (Midcontinent) balancing area
The MISO (Midcontinent) balancing area takes in 2,383 power plants with 212.6 GW of nameplate capacity, the second-largest of the 40 areas covered here. Its plants sit in 15 states, with Michigan holding 14% of the capacity. Natural gas makes up 39% of the mix, and the largest plant is Gibson (3,340 MW). Since 2020, 39.5 GW has come online here, 49% of it solar.
- Natural gas83,576 MW39%
- Coal47,545 MW22%
- Wind33,171 MW16%
- Solar20,792 MW9.8%
- Nuclear13,081 MW6.2%
- Oil and petroleum4,588 MW2.2%
- Hydroelectric2,478 MW1.2%
- Pumped-storage hydro2,417 MW1.1%
- Biomass and waste2,309 MW1.1%
- Other sources1,804 MW0.8%
- Battery storage804 MW0.4%
Capacity by decade it came online
NuclearCoalNatural gasOil and petroleumHydroelectricPumped-storage hydroWindSolarBattery storageBiomass and wasteOther sources
Above the line: capacity operating in 2025. Below: capacity retired at plants that still run.
The 25 largest plants in the area
| Rank | Plant | State | Runs on | Capacity | First unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gibson | Indiana | Coal | 3,340 MW | 1975 |
| 2 | Monroe (MI) | Michigan | Coal | 3,293 MW | 1969 |
| 3 | Nine Mile Point | Louisiana | Natural gas | 2,440 MW | 1971 |
| 4 | Union Power Station | Arkansas | Natural gas | 2,428 MW | 2003 |
| 5 | Labadie | Missouri | Coal | 2,389 MW | 1970 |
| 6 | Ludington | Michigan | Pumped-storage hydro | 1,979 MW | 1973 |
| 7 | Big Cajun 2 | Louisiana | Coal | 1,903 MW | 1981 |
| 8 | Midland Cogeneration Venture | Michigan | Natural gas | 1,854 MW | 1989 |
| 9 | Arkansas Nuclear One | Arkansas | Nuclear | 1,845 MW | 1974 |
| 10 | Sabine | Texas | Natural gas | 1,812 MW | 1962 |
| 11 | Independence Steam Electric Station | Arkansas | Coal | 1,800 MW | 1983 |
| 12 | White Bluff | Arkansas | Coal | 1,800 MW | 1980 |
| 13 | Prairie State Generating Station | Illinois | Coal | 1,766 MW | 2012 |
| 14 | Brame Energy Center | Louisiana | Oil and petroleum | 1,707 MW | 1975 |
| 15 | Sherburne County | Minnesota | Coal | 1,704 MW | 1976 |
| 16 | Belle River | Michigan | Coal | 1,664 MW | 1981 |
| 17 | Walter Scott Jr Energy Center | Iowa | Coal | 1,648 MW | 1978 |
| 18 | J H Campbell | Michigan | Coal | 1,561 MW | 1962 |
| 19 | Grand Gulf | Mississippi | Nuclear | 1,440 MW | 1985 |
| 20 | Cottonwood Energy Company LP | Texas | Natural gas | 1,434 MW | 2003 |
| 21 | R S Nelson | Louisiana | Coal | 1,434 MW | 1959 |
| 22 | Elm Road Generating Station | Wisconsin | Coal | 1,403 MW | 2010 |
| 23 | Dan E Karn | Michigan | Natural gas | 1,402 MW | 1975 |
| 24 | Acadia Energy Center | Louisiana | Natural gas | 1,389 MW | 2002 |
| 25 | AES Petersburg | Indiana | Coal | 1,350 MW | 1967 |
States
Operators with the most capacity
| Operator | Plants | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy Co | 57 | 13.2 GW |
| Entergy Louisiana LLC | 15 | 12.8 GW |
| DTE Electric Company | 39 | 12.2 GW |
| Northern States Power Co - Minnesota | 51 | 10.5 GW |
| Union Electric Co (MO) | 27 | 10.2 GW |
| Entergy Arkansas LLC | 11 | 9,635 MW |
| Consumers Energy Co (MI) | 27 | 7,529 MW |
| Duke Energy Indiana, LLC | 13 | 6,429 MW |
| Wisconsin Electric Power Co | 52 | 6,291 MW |
| Wisconsin Power & Light Co | 31 | 5,774 MW |