Big Blue — United States of America

Big Blue is a 36 MW wind power plant in Minnesota, United States of America. It is operated by Big Blue Wind Farm LLC (MN). Based on reported annual generation of 105 GWh, it can supply roughly 30k homes. It ranks #4063 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2013, it is around 13 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, wind supplies about 10.3% 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 USA0057289.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000906585; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 36 MW, Big Blue is below the median wind plant in United States of America (67.7 MW). Wind turbines convert moving air into electricity; output is variable and site-dependent, and modern turbines deliver some of the lowest-cost new generation on many grids.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

33%, from 105 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1120 wind plants in United States of America that report generation is 30%

Generation trend

112 GWh in 2013 and 105 GWh in 2019 (−6%)

Highest and lowest year

2015: 129 GWh; 2019: 105 GWh

Share of United States of America wind capacity

less than 0.1% of 104,873 MW across 1,139 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

718 of 1,139 dated wind 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 Big Blue Wind Farm LLC (MN).

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 43.6°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 69% above 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: 86/100 — this site sits in the top 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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling 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 #693 largest wind power plant of 1139 in United States of America by capacity.

United States of America has 1139 wind power plants in this dataset, together about 104,873 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Blue Breezes II LLC · Wind · 1.3 MW · Minnesota
• Blue Breezes LLC · Wind · 1.3 MW · Minnesota
• Blue Earth · Oil · 11 MW · Minnesota
• Fairmont Wind · Wind · 5.4 MW · Minnesota
• Fairmont (MN) · Gas · 39 MW · Minnesota
• Lakota Wind Wind Farm · Wind · 10.5 MW · Minnesota

Location

Coordinates 43.6122, -94.1919 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions