Brownlee
Brownlee is a hydroelectric plant in Washington County, Idaho, operated by Idaho Power Co. No other power plant in Idaho has more nameplate capacity; the state has 153 in all. Within the Idaho Power balancing area it is the largest of 134 plants. Its biggest unit, rated at 225 MW, is the second-largest single generator in Idaho.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
675 MW
702 MW net summer capacity
5 operable units
- Hydro675 MW100%
Unit by unit, 1958 to 2025
operating in 2025bar height follows unit size
Unit 2 Hydro, 112 MW, 1958
Unit 3 Hydro, 112 MW, 1958
Unit 4 Hydro, 112 MW, 1958
Unit 1 Hydro, 112 MW, 1959
Unit 5 Hydro, 225 MW, 1980
Among Idaho’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Brownleethis plant
- 2Dworshak465 MW
- 3Langley Gulch Power Plant318 MW
Other rankings
- All US power plants
- 524th of 14,286
- US hydroelectric plants
- 22nd of 1,390
- Hydroelectric plants in Idaho
- 1st of 76
- Plants run by Idaho Power Co
- 1st of 30
Operable units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Hydro | 112 MW | 124 MW | 1958 | Operating |
| 3 | Hydro | 112 MW | 125 MW | 1958 | Operating |
| 2 | Hydro | 112 MW | 109 MW | 1958 | Operating |
| 1 | Hydro | 112 MW | 127 MW | 1959 | Operating |
| 5 | Hydro | 225 MW | 218 MW | 1980 | Operating |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Idaho Power
- Reliability region
- Western Electricity Coordinating Council
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 230 kV
- Water source
- Snake River
- Nearest town on record
- Cambridge
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 44.837°N, 116.897°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxbow (OR) | Hydroelectric | 190 MW | 9.8 mi north |
| Tamarack Energy | Biomass and waste | 6.2 MW | 26.3 mi east |
| Hells Canyon | Hydroelectric | 411 MW | 29.7 mi north |
| Wallowa Falls | Hydroelectric | 1.1 MW | 33.5 mi northwest |
| Prospector Windfarm (Burnt River) | Wind | 10 MW | 33.8 mi southwest |
| Jett Creek Windfarm (Burnt River) | Wind | 10 MW | 33.9 mi southwest |
| Lime Wind | Wind | 3 MW | 35.5 mi southwest |
| Willow Spring Windfarm (Burnt River) | Wind | 10 MW | 36.5 mi southwest |