OREG 1 Inc — United States of America

OREG 1 Inc is a 30 MW cogeneration power plant in Montana, United States of America. It is operated by Ormat Nevada Inc. Based on reported annual generation of 156 GWh, it can supply roughly 45k homes. It ranks #4257 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2006, it is around 20 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 28,731 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 6.7k cars driven for a year. In context, the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0056833.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 30 MW, OREG 1 Inc is well above the median cogeneration plant in United States of America (26 MW). This facility converts its energy source into electricity for the grid; its capacity, fuel type and location determine its role in the national power mix.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

~28,731 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

60%, from 156 GWh of reported generation; the median for 31 cogeneration plants in United States of America that report generation is 47%

Generation trend

173 GWh in 2013 and 156 GWh in 2019 (−10%)

Highest and lowest year

2013: 173 GWh; 2014: 132 GWh

Share of United States of America cogeneration capacity

2.9% of 1,037 MW across 34 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

22 of 34 dated cogeneration 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 Ormat Nevada Inc. All plants by this company →

Local climate & thermal context

This cogeneration plant produces electricity and useful heat together for higher fuel efficiency. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 48.2°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 81% 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: 90/100 — 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 #15 largest cogeneration power plant of 34 in United States of America by capacity.

United States of America has 34 cogeneration power plants in this dataset, together about 1,037 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• OREG 2 Inc · Cogeneration · 30 MW · Montana
• Culbertson Generation Station · Gas · 91 MW · Montana
• Pioneer Generating Station · Gas · 293.1 MW · North Dakota
• Portable Generator 2 · Oil · 2 MW · North Dakota
• Portable Generator 3 · Oil · 2 MW · North Dakota
• Sidney MT Plant · Coal · 4 MW · Montana

Location

Coordinates 48.2139, -104.3975 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions