Hutchinson Plant #2 — United States of America
Gas power plant in Minnesota, United States of America. Approximate location 44.8889, -94.3493.
GasMinnesotaUnited States of AmericaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ modelled
Hutchinson Plant #2 is a 90.5 MW gas power plant in Minnesota, United States of America. It is operated by Hutchinson Utilities Comm. Based on reported annual generation of 16 GWh, it can supply roughly 4.5k homes. It ranks #2920 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1995, it is around 31 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 104,309 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 24k cars driven for a year. 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 USA0006358.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source 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 66 MW for Hutchinson Plant-2 power 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: GEM · 2026 · L100000402006; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 90.5 MW, Hutchinson Plant #2 is below the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). 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.
~104,309 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
- 2%, from 16 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 16 GWh in 2013 and 16 GWh in 2019 (−3%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 23 GWh; 2015: 10 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
- 714 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 Hutchinson Utilities Comm.
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 44.9°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 76% 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: 89/100 — 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 #1179 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
- Hutchinson Plant #1 · Gas · 52.9 MW · Minnesota
- Spruce Ridge Gas Recovery · Waste · 3.2 MW · Minnesota
- Glencoe · Oil · 39.5 MW · Minnesota
- Meeker Community Solar One LLC CSG · Solar · 1 MW · Minnesota
- FastSun 1 CSG · Solar · 1 MW · Minnesota
- Nautilus Winsted Solar CSG · Solar · 3 MW · Minnesota
Location
Coordinates 44.8889, -94.3493 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Hutchinson Plant #2?
Hutchinson Plant #2 is a 90.5 MW gas power plant in Minnesota, United States of America, commissioned in 1995.
How much electricity does Hutchinson Plant #2 generate?
Hutchinson Plant #2 generates about 16 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Hutchinson Plant #2?
Hutchinson Plant #2 is operated by Hutchinson Utilities Comm.
How much CO₂ does Hutchinson Plant #2 emit?
Hutchinson Plant #2 has modelled emissions of about 104,309 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).