Earl F Wisdom — United States of America
Gas power plant in Iowa, United States of America. Approximate location 43.1606, -95.2569.
GasIowaUnited States of AmericaOCGT
Earl F Wisdom is a 119.1 MW gas power station in Iowa, United States of America. It is operated by Corn Belt Power Coop. Based on reported annual generation of 20 GWh, it can supply roughly 5.9k homes. It ranks #2541 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1990, it is around 36 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 USA0001217.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 82 MW for Earl F. Wisdom Generating Station, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 119.1 MW, Earl F Wisdom is around the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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
- 2%, from 20 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- 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
- 533 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 Corn Belt Power Coop.
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 hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 43.2°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 65% 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: 85/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% 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 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 #1089 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
- Earl F. Wisdom Generating Station · Coal · 82 MW · Iowa
- Upland Prairie · Wind · 299.3 MW · Iowa
- Spencer Gas Turbine · Oil · 23.8 MW · Iowa
- Milford · Oil · 6.5 MW · Iowa
- Lost Lakes Wind Farm LLC · Wind · 100 MW · Iowa
- Flying Cloud Power Partners LLC · Wind · 43.5 MW · Iowa
Location
Coordinates 43.1606, -95.2569 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Earl F Wisdom?
Earl F Wisdom is a 119.1 MW gas power plant in Iowa, United States of America, commissioned in 1990.
How much electricity does Earl F Wisdom generate?
Earl F Wisdom generates about 20 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Earl F Wisdom?
Earl F Wisdom is operated by Corn Belt Power Coop.