Cunningham — United States of America
Gas power plant in New Mexico, United States of America. Approximate location 32.7131, -103.3533.
GasNew MexicoUnited States of AmericaSteam
Cunningham is a 519.2 MW gas power station in New Mexico, United States of America. It is operated by Southwestern Public Service Co. Based on reported annual generation of 1,708 GWh, it can supply roughly 488k homes. It ranks #1196 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1979, it is around 47 years old — long-established. In context, gas supplies about 40.0% 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 USA0002454.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
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 · 2026 · L100000402297; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 519.2 MW, Cunningham is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 38%, from 1,708 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 1,001 GWh in 2013 and 1,708 GWh in 2019 (+71%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2019: 1,708 GWh; 2017: 878 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- less than 0.1% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 301 of 1,973 dated gas 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 Southwestern Public Service Co. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 32.7°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 40% 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: 33/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~1% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
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 #573 largest gas power plant of 2165 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 2165 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 789,950 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Hobbs Generating Station · Gas · 682 MW · New Mexico
- Maddox · Gas · 201 MW · New Mexico
- SPS4 Monument · Solar · 10.1 MW · New Mexico
- Lea County power station · Gas · 2,000 MW · New Mexico
- SPS3 Lea · Solar · 10 MW · New Mexico
- Wildcat Wind · Wind · 27.3 MW · New Mexico
Location
Coordinates 32.7131, -103.3533 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Cunningham?
Cunningham is a 519.2 MW gas power plant in New Mexico, United States of America, commissioned in 1979.
How much electricity does Cunningham generate?
Cunningham generates about 1,708 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Cunningham?
Cunningham is operated by Southwestern Public Service Co.