Bonneville
Bonneville is a hydroelectric plant in Multnomah County, Oregon, operated by USACE Northwestern Division. It ranks third by nameplate capacity among Oregon’s 302 power plants. Among the 1,390 hydroelectric plants in the country it is the ninth-largest.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
1,162 MW
1,154 MW net summer capacity
20 operable units
- Hydro1,162 MW100%
Unit by unit, 1938 to 2025
operating in 2025bar height follows unit size
2 units Hydro, 107 MW, 1938
3 units Hydro, 186 MW, 1941
Unit 6 Hydro, 62.1 MW, 1942
3 units Hydro, 186 MW, 1943
Unit 10 Hydro, 62.1 MW, 1944
4 units Hydro, 213 MW, 1981
6 units Hydro, 346 MW, 1982
Among Oregon’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1John Day2,160 MW
- 2The Dalles1,820 MW
- 3Bonnevillethis plant
- 4McNary990 MW
- 5Hermiston Power Partnership689 MW
Other rankings
- All US power plants
- 240th of 14,286
- Hydroelectric plants in Oregon
- 3rd of 63
- Plants in the Bonneville Power Administration balancing area
- 6th of 129
- Plants run by USACE Northwestern Division
- 4th of 21
- Biggest single unit, among Oregon’s plants
- 42nd of 302
Operable units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydro | 53.5 MW | 53.5 MW | 1938 | Out of service, expected back |
| 2 | Hydro | 53.5 MW | 53.5 MW | 1938 | Out of service, expected back |
| 3 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1941 | Operating |
| 4 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1941 | Operating |
| 5 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1941 | Operating |
| 6 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1942 | Operating |
| 7 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1943 | Operating |
| 8 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1943 | Operating |
| 9 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 62.1 MW | 1943 | Out of service, expected back |
| 10 | Hydro | 62.1 MW | 54 MW | 1944 | Operating |
| 18 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1981 | Operating |
| 17 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1981 | Operating |
| F2 | Hydro | 13.1 MW | 13.1 MW | 1981 | Out of service, expected back |
| 16 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1981 | Operating |
| F1 | Hydro | 13.1 MW | 13.1 MW | 1982 | Operating |
| 15 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1982 | Operating |
| 14 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1982 | Operating |
| 11 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1982 | Operating |
| 12 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1982 | Operating |
| 13 | Hydro | 66.5 MW | 66.5 MW | 1982 | Operating |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Bonneville Power Administration
- Reliability region
- Western Electricity Coordinating Council
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 230 kV
- Water source
- Columbia River
- Nearest town on record
- Cascade Locks
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 45.644°N, 121.941°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 1 | Hydroelectric | 23.7 MW | 13.2 mi southwest |
| PHP 2 | Hydroelectric | 11.8 MW | 16.9 mi southwest |
| Peters Drive Plant | Hydroelectric | 1.8 MW | 19.0 mi east |
| Brightwood Solar, LLC | Solar | 10 MW | 19.2 mi south |
| Middle Fork Irrigation District | Hydroelectric | 3.3 MW | 20.0 mi southeast |
| Copper Dam Plant | Hydroelectric | 2.6 MW | 20.2 mi east |
| Timothy Lake Powerhouse | Hydroelectric | 1.2 MW | 20.9 mi southeast |
| SulusSolar29 | Solar | 2.6 MW | 21.1 mi southwest |