Martin Drake — United States of America
Coal power plant in Colorado, United States of America. Approximate location 38.8244, -104.8333.
CoalColoradoUnited States of AmericaSteamCO₂ measured
Martin Drake is a 204 MW coal power station in Colorado, United States of America. It is operated by City of Colorado Springs - (CO). Based on reported annual generation of 740 GWh, it can supply roughly 211k homes. It ranks #1911 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1971, it is around 55 years old — an older, legacy facility. Its annual emissions of 82,062 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 19k cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 16.3% 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 USA0000492.
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 · L100000103810; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 204 MW, Martin Drake is below the median coal plant in United States of America (558 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
82,062 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per US EPA GHGRP (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 41%, from 740 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 41% median for 244 coal plants in United States of America
- Share of United States of America coal capacity
- less than 0.1% of 621,194 MW across 802 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 319 of 745 dated coal 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 City of Colorado Springs - (CO).
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 38.8°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 34% 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: 71/100 — this site sits in the top 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 #587 largest coal power plant of 802 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 802 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 621,194 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- South Plant (CO) · Gas · 245.1 MW · Colorado
- Martin Drake Power Plant · Coal · 257 MW · Colorado
- George Birdsall · Gas · 61.1 MW · Colorado
- Manitou Springs · Hydro · 5.6 MW · Colorado
- Pikes Peak Solar Garden 1 LLC CSG · Solar · 2 MW · Colorado
- Fort Carson Battery Energy Storage System · Storage · 4.2 MW · Colorado
Location
Coordinates 38.8244, -104.8333 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Martin Drake?
Martin Drake is a 204 MW coal power plant in Colorado, United States of America, commissioned in 1971.
How much electricity does Martin Drake generate?
Martin Drake generates about 740 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Martin Drake?
Martin Drake is operated by City of Colorado Springs - (CO).
How much CO₂ does Martin Drake emit?
Martin Drake has measured emissions of about 82,062 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).