Rio Bravo — United States of America
Gas power plant in New Mexico, United States of America. Approximate location 35.026, -106.644.
GasNew MexicoUnited States of AmericaOCGTCO₂ modelled
Rio Bravo is a 150 MW gas power station in New Mexico, United States of America. It is operated by Public Service Co of NM. Based on reported annual generation of 270 GWh, it can supply roughly 77k homes. It ranks #2296 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2000, it is around 26 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 190,723 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 44k 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 USA0055039.
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 · L100000402230; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 150 MW, Rio Bravo is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.
~190,723 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
- 21%, from 270 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 22 GWh in 2013 and 270 GWh in 2019 (+1103%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2019: 270 GWh; 2014: 18 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
- 872 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 Public Service Co of NM.
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 cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 35.0°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 4% 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: 49/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 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 #1008 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
- Southside Water Reclamation Plant · Gas · 6.6 MW · New Mexico
- Prosperity Energy Storage Facility Hybrid · Storage · 1.3 MW · New Mexico
- Ford Utilities Center · Gas · 14.8 MW · New Mexico
- South Valley Solar Energy Center · Solar · 10 MW · New Mexico
- Eubank Landfill Solar Array · Solar · 2 MW · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Solar Energy Center · Solar · 2 MW · New Mexico
Location
Coordinates 35.026, -106.644 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Rio Bravo?
Rio Bravo is a 150 MW gas power plant in New Mexico, United States of America, commissioned in 2000.
How much electricity does Rio Bravo generate?
Rio Bravo generates about 270 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Rio Bravo?
Rio Bravo is operated by Public Service Co of NM.
How much CO₂ does Rio Bravo emit?
Rio Bravo has modelled emissions of about 190,723 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).