Pioneer Generation Station
Pioneer Generation Station is a natural gas plant in Williams County, North Dakota, operated by Basin Electric Power Coop. It ranks third by nameplate capacity among North Dakota’s 62 power plants. It is the biggest of North Dakota’s 5 natural gas plants. Of its current capacity, 604 MW came online between 2023 and 2025.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
897 MW
763 MW net summer capacity
23 operable units
- Gas combustion turbine673 MW75%
- Gas engine224 MW25%
Unit by unit, 2013 to 2025
operating in 2025bar height follows unit size
Unit 01 Gas combustion turbine, 60.5 MW, 2013
2 units Gas combustion turbine, 121 MW, 2014
12 units Gas engine, 112 MW, 2017
2 units Gas combustion turbine, 491 MW, 2025
6 units Gas engine, 113 MW, 2025
Among North Dakota’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Coal Creek1,216 MW
- 2Antelope Valley954 MW
- 3Pioneer Generation Stationthis plant
- 4Milton R Young734 MW
- 5Leland Olds656 MW
Other rankings
- All US power plants
- 356th of 14,286
- US natural gas plants
- 189th of 1,961
- Plants in the Southwest Power Pool balancing area
- 23rd of 713
- Plants run by Basin Electric Power Coop
- 3rd of 16
- Biggest single unit, among North Dakota’s plants
- 7th of 62
Operable units
By the year its oldest working unit started, it is the second-oldest of North Dakota’s natural gas plants.
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Gas combustion turbine | 60.5 MW | 42 MW | 2013 | Operating |
| 02 | Gas combustion turbine | 60.5 MW | 42 MW | 2014 | Operating |
| 03 | Gas combustion turbine | 60.5 MW | 42 MW | 2014 | Operating |
| 11 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 12 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 13 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 14 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 15 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 16 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 17 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 18 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 19 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 20 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 21 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 22 | Gas engine | 9.3 MW | 8.9 MW | 2017 | Operating |
| 31 | Gas engine | 18.8 MW | 18.3 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 32 | Gas engine | 18.8 MW | 18.3 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 33 | Gas engine | 18.8 MW | 18.3 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 34 | Gas engine | 18.8 MW | 18.3 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 35 | Gas engine | 18.8 MW | 18.3 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 36 | Gas engine | 18.8 MW | 18.3 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 05 | Gas combustion turbine | 246 MW | 210 MW | 2025 | Operating |
| 04 | Gas combustion turbine | 246 MW | 210 MW | 2025 | Operating |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Southwest Power Pool
- Reliability region
- Midwest Reliability Organization
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 115 kV
- Nearest town on record
- Williston
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 48.233°N, 103.953°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culbertson Generation Station | Natural gas | 108 MW | 20.3 mi west |
| OREG 2 Inc | Other sources | 30 MW | 20.5 mi west |
| OREG 1 Inc | Other sources | 30 MW | 20.5 mi west |
| Lonesome Creek Station | Natural gas | 363 MW | 34.7 mi southeast |
| Lewis & Clark | Natural gas | 18.6 MW | 39.4 mi south |
| Aurora Wind Project | Wind | 299 MW | 43.3 mi northeast |
| Lindahl Wind Project, LLC | Wind | 150 MW | 51.2 mi northeast |
| Burke Wind, LLC | Wind | 199 MW | 70.2 mi northeast |