Columbia Generating Station — United States of America
Nuclear power plant in Washington, United States of America. Approximate location 46.4711, -119.3339.
NuclearWashingtonUnited States of America
Columbia Generating Station is a 1,190 MW nuclear power station in Washington, United States of America. It is operated by Energy Northwest. Based on reported annual generation of 8,866 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.5 million homes. It ranks #484 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1985, it is around 41 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, nuclear supplies about 17.4% 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 USA0000371.
Data status
Known 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: GEM Global Nuclear Power Tracker September 2025 operating-unit sum (location L100000500057); fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,190 MW, Columbia Generating Station is below the median nuclear plant in United States of America (1,350 MW). Nuclear plants split uranium to raise steam with no direct CO₂; they run as steady baseload with very high capacity factors and the longest operating lifetimes of any thermal plant.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 85%, from 8,866 GWh of reported generation; the median for 57 nuclear plants in United States of America that report generation is 89%
- Generation trend
- 8,461 GWh in 2013 and 8,866 GWh in 2019 (+5%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 9,708 GWh; 2017: 8,128 GWh
- Share of United States of America nuclear capacity
- 0.4% of 270,415 MW across 176 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 68 of 111 dated nuclear 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 Energy Northwest.
Local climate & thermal context
This nuclear plant uses heat from nuclear fission to raise steam for a turbine-generator. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 46.5°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 8% 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: 53/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 #102 largest nuclear power plant of 176 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 176 nuclear power plants in this dataset, together about 270,415 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Washington Nuclear Project nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 2,484 MW · Washington
- Richland SMR nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 960 MW · Washington
- Potholes East Canal 66.0 · Hydro · 2.3 MW · Washington
- Eltopia Branch Canal 4.6 · Hydro · 2.2 MW · Washington
- Franklin/Grays · Gas · 45.6 MW · Washington
- Chandler · Hydro · 12 MW · Washington
Location
Coordinates 46.4711, -119.3339 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Columbia Generating Station?
Columbia Generating Station is a 1,190 MW nuclear power plant in Washington, United States of America, commissioned in 1985.
How much electricity does Columbia Generating Station generate?
Columbia Generating Station generates about 8,866 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Columbia Generating Station?
Columbia Generating Station is operated by Energy Northwest.