North Omaha — United States of America
Coal power plant in Iowa, United States of America. Approximate location 41.3291, -95.9447.
CoalIowaUnited States of AmericaSteamCO₂ measured
North Omaha is a 644.7 MW coal power station in Iowa, United States of America. It is operated by Omaha Public Power District. Based on reported annual generation of 1,873 GWh, it can supply roughly 535k homes. It ranks #978 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1961, it is around 65 years old — an older, legacy facility. Its annual emissions of 1,588,043 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 370k 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 USA0002291.
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 354 MW for North Omaha 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 · L100000104041; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 644.7 MW, North Omaha is well above 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.
1,588,043 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
- 33%, from 1,873 GWh of reported generation; the median for 244 coal plants in United States of America that report generation is 41%
- Generation trend
- 3,300 GWh in 2013 and 1,873 GWh in 2019 (−43%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2013: 3,300 GWh; 2018: 1,758 GWh
- Share of United States of America coal capacity
- 0.1% of 621,194 MW across 802 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 180 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 Omaha Public Power District. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 41.3°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 32% 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: 69/100 — 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 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 #351 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
- North Omaha Station · Coal · 644.7 MW · Nebraska
- Jones Street · Oil · 130 MW · Nebraska
- Standing Bear Lake Station · Gas · 162.9 MW · Nebraska
- Missouri River Wastewater Treatment · Biomass · 3 MW · Nebraska
- Fort Calhoun Community Solar · Solar · 5 MW · Nebraska
- Sarpy County · Gas · 334 MW · Nebraska
Location
Coordinates 41.3291, -95.9447 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is North Omaha?
North Omaha is a 644.7 MW coal power plant in Iowa, United States of America, commissioned in 1961.
How much electricity does North Omaha generate?
North Omaha generates about 1,873 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates North Omaha?
North Omaha is operated by Omaha Public Power District.
How much CO₂ does North Omaha emit?
North Omaha has measured emissions of about 1,588,043 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).