King City Peaking — United States of America
Gas power plant in California, United States of America. Approximate location 36.2248, -121.1246.
GasCaliforniaUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
King City Peaking is a 47.3 MW gas power plant in California, United States of America. It is operated by Calpine Corp-King City. Based on reported annual generation of 6 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.7k homes. It ranks #3760 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 138,230 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 32k 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 USA0055811.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
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 133 MW for King City power plant, 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 · L100000402471; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 47.3 MW, King City Peaking is below the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). 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.
~138,230 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
- 1%, from 6 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 6 GWh in 2013 and 6 GWh in 2019 (−5%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 9 GWh; 2016: 4 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
- 1,047 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 Calpine Corp-King City.
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 warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 36.2°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 42% 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 ~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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion 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 #1393 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
- King City Power Plant · Gas · 133.2 MW · California
- Foundation Scheid Vineyards · Wind · 1.9 MW · California
- City of Soledad Water Reclamation · Wind · 1 MW · California
- Foundation California Training Facility · Wind · 1.8 MW · California
- Foundation SaIinas Valley State Prison · Wind · 1.8 MW · California
- Salinas River Cogeneration · Gas · 38.9 MW · California
Location
Coordinates 36.2248, -121.1246 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is King City Peaking?
King City Peaking is a 47.3 MW gas power plant in California, United States of America, commissioned in 2002.
How much electricity does King City Peaking generate?
King City Peaking generates about 6 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates King City Peaking?
King City Peaking is operated by Calpine Corp-King City.
How much CO₂ does King City Peaking emit?
King City Peaking has modelled emissions of about 138,230 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).