Hydroelectric Power Plants in Kentucky
Every operating hydroelectric power plant in Kentucky on EIA-860M for 2026-07: 11 plants, 44 generating units and 1 GW of nameplate capacity across 10 counties.
As of 2026-07 (inventory dated 2026-07-31) · EIA-860M Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory · eia.gov/…/july_generator2026.xlsx · eia.gov/…/eia860m
- Plants
- 11
- 44 generating units
- Nameplate capacity
- 1 GW
- Counties
- 10
- Grid operator
- Mixed
- no single ISO covers a majority
Map of hydroelectric power plants in Kentucky
Every one of the 11 plants is drawn at the coordinate EIA files for it.
Loading map…
- Hydro · 11
List of hydroelectric power plants in Kentucky
Sort by any column. Capacity is nameplate, summed across every generating unit EIA lists at the site.
| Wolf CreekConventional Hydroelectric | USCE-Nashville District | Russell | 270 | 6 | 1951 | Operating |
| Kentucky DamConventional Hydroelectric | Tennessee Valley Authority | Marshall | 218.6 | 5 | 1944 | Operating |
| BarkleyConventional Hydroelectric | USCE-Nashville District | Lyon | 130 | 4 | 1966 | Operating |
| Ohio FallsConventional Hydroelectric | Louisville Gas & Electric Co | Jefferson | 109.6 | 8 | 1928 | Operating |
| Meldahl Hydroelectric ProjectConventional Hydroelectric | City of Hamilton - (OH) | Bracken | 105 | 3 | 2016 | Operating |
| Cannelton Hydroelectric PlantConventional Hydroelectric | American Mun Power-Ohio, Inc | Hancock | 87.9 | 3 | 2016 | Operating |
| Smithland Hydroelectric PlantConventional Hydroelectric | American Mun Power-Ohio, Inc | Livingston | 75.9 | 3 | 2017 | Operating |
| Laurel DamConventional Hydroelectric | USCE-Nashville District | Laurel | 70 | 1 | 1977 | Operating |
| Dix DamConventional Hydroelectric | Kentucky Utilities Co | Mercer | 28.2 | 3 | 1925 | Operating |
| Matilda Hamilton Fee Hydroelectric StatiConventional Hydroelectric | Lock 12 Hydro Partners, LLC | Estill | 2.5 | 5 | 2021 | Operating |
| Mother Ann LeeConventional Hydroelectric | Lock 7 Hydro Partners LLC | Mercer | 2.1 | 3 | 2007 | Operating |
Largest hydroelectric power plants in Kentucky
- 1Wolf CreekRussell County, Kentucky270 MW
- 2Kentucky DamMarshall County, Kentucky218.6 MW
- 3BarkleyLyon County, Kentucky130 MW
- 4Ohio FallsJefferson County, Kentucky109.6 MW
- 5Meldahl Hydroelectric ProjectBracken County, Kentucky105 MW
- 6Cannelton Hydroelectric PlantHancock County, Kentucky87.9 MW
- 7Smithland Hydroelectric PlantLivingston County, Kentucky75.9 MW
- 8Laurel DamLaurel County, Kentucky70 MW
- 9Dix DamMercer County, Kentucky28.2 MW
- 10Matilda Hamilton Fee Hydroelectric StatiEstill County, Kentucky2.5 MW
Hydroelectric power plants by county in Kentucky
The county EIA files against each plant. It is the fastest way to find the plant nearest a given town.
| County | Plants | Nameplate MW |
|---|---|---|
| Russell | 1 | 270 |
| Marshall | 1 | 218.6 |
| Lyon | 1 | 130 |
| Jefferson | 1 | 109.6 |
| Bracken | 1 | 105 |
| Hancock | 1 | 87.9 |
| Livingston | 1 | 75.9 |
| Laurel | 1 | 70 |
| Mercer | 2 | 30.3 |
| Estill | 1 | 2.5 |
Hydroelectric Power Plants in Kentucky: FAQ
- How many hydroelectric power plants are in Kentucky?
- 11, with 1 GW of nameplate capacity between them, spread over 10 counties. That is the EIA-860M operating count for 2026-07.
- Is there a map of Kentucky hydroelectric power plants?
- Yes — the map above. Each dot is one hydroelectric power plant, sized by nameplate capacity and placed at the coordinates EIA files for it.
- Which is the largest hydroelectric power plant in Kentucky?
- Wolf Creek, at 270 MW. The table is sorted largest first, so the rest follow it.
- Is there a hydroelectric power plant near me in Kentucky?
- The county roll-up below groups every plant by county, which is the quickest way to find the one closest to a given town.
- Which grid operator runs Kentucky's hydroelectric power plants?
- No single ISO or RTO covers most of them. EIA files each plant against its own balancing authority, which in Kentucky is largely a vertically integrated utility rather than an organised market.
- How current is this, and what is left out?
- EIA-860M for 2026-07. Conventional hydroelectric. Pumped storage is counted separately. Plants below 1 MW are not surveyed by EIA and so are absent; retirements and additions after 2026-07 arrive with the next monthly release.