North Pole — United States of America
Oil power plant in Alaska, United States of America. Approximate location 64.7356, -147.3481.
OilAlaskaUnited States of AmericaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ modelled
North Pole is a 181 MW oil power station in Alaska, United States of America. It is operated by Golden Valley Elec Assn Inc. Based on reported annual generation of 431 GWh, it can supply roughly 123k homes. It ranks #2072 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1986, it is around 40 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 112,313 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 26k cars driven for a year. In context, oil supplies about 0.7% 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 USA0006285.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source 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 · L100000409243; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 181 MW, North Pole is well above the median oil plant in United States of America (7.2 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~112,313 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
- 27%, from 431 GWh of reported generation; the median for 469 oil plants in United States of America that report generation is 0%
- Generation trend
- 391 GWh in 2013 and 431 GWh in 2019 (+10%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 448 GWh; 2014: 314 GWh
- Share of United States of America oil capacity
- 0.5% of 40,022 MW across 902 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 323 of 877 dated oil 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 Golden Valley Elec Assn Inc.
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a subarctic (boreal) climate (Köppen Dfc) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 64.7°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 212% 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: 100/100 — 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 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 #41 largest oil power plant of 902 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 902 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 40,022 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Eielson AFB Central Heat & Power Plant · Coal · 31 MW · Alaska
- Eielson Air Force Base nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 5 MW · Alaska
- Utility Plants Section · Coal · 20 MW · Alaska
- Battery Energy Storage System · Storage · 40 MW · Alaska
- Fairbanks · Oil · 42.2 MW · Alaska
- Aurora Energy LLC Chena · Coal · 27.5 MW · Alaska
Location
Coordinates 64.7356, -147.3481 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is North Pole?
North Pole is a 181 MW oil power plant in Alaska, United States of America, commissioned in 1986.
How much electricity does North Pole generate?
North Pole generates about 431 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates North Pole?
North Pole is operated by Golden Valley Elec Assn Inc.
How much CO₂ does North Pole emit?
North Pole has modelled emissions of about 112,313 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).