Argus Cogen Plant — United States of America
Coal power plant in California, United States of America. Approximate location 35.765, -117.3833.
CoalCaliforniaUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
Argus Cogen Plant is a 62.5 MW coal power plant in California, United States of America. It is operated by Searles Valley Minerals Operations Inc.. Based on reported annual generation of 250 GWh, it can supply roughly 71k homes. It ranks #3373 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1974, it is around 52 years old — an older, legacy facility. Its modelled annual emissions are 174,150 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 41k cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 16.3% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0010684.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 62.5 MW, Argus Cogen Plant is below the median coal plant in United States of America (558 MW). Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~174,150 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 46%, from 250 GWh of reported generation; the median for 244 coal plants in United States of America that report generation is 41%
- Generation trend
- 361 GWh in 2013 and 250 GWh in 2019 (−31%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2013: 361 GWh; 2019: 250 GWh
- Share of United States of America coal capacity
- less than 0.1% of 621,194 MW across 802 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 362 of 745 dated coal plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Searles Valley Minerals Operations Inc..
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 35.8°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 52% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 29/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #722 largest coal power plant of 802 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 802 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 621,194 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- ACE Cogeneration Facility · Coal · 116 MW · California
- Westend Facility · Gas · 20 MW · California
- Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake · Solar · 11.1 MW · California
- Coso Energy Developers · Geothermal · 90 MW · California
- Coso Power Developers · Geothermal · 90 MW · California
- Coso Finance Partners · Geothermal · 92.2 MW · California
Location
Coordinates 35.765, -117.3833 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Argus Cogen Plant?
Argus Cogen Plant is a 62.5 MW coal power plant in California, United States of America, commissioned in 1974.
How much electricity does Argus Cogen Plant generate?
Argus Cogen Plant generates about 250 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Argus Cogen Plant?
Argus Cogen Plant is operated by Searles Valley Minerals Operations Inc..
How much CO₂ does Argus Cogen Plant emit?
Argus Cogen Plant has modelled emissions of about 174,150 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).