Rio Grande — United States of America
Gas power plant in New Mexico, United States of America. Approximate location 31.8047, -106.5472.
GasNew MexicoUnited States of AmericaSteam
Rio Grande is a 399 MW gas power station in New Mexico, United States of America. It is operated by El Paso Electric Co. Based on reported annual generation of 927 GWh, it can supply roughly 265k homes. It ranks #1384 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1981, it is around 45 years old — long-established. 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 USA0002444.
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 · L100000401903; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 399 MW, Rio Grande is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. 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.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 27%, from 927 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 26% median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America
- Generation trend
- 737 GWh in 2013 and 927 GWh in 2019 (+26%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 966 GWh; 2018: 642 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
- 332 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 El Paso Electric Co.
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 desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 31.8°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 48% 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: 30/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~2% 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 #675 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
- Four Peaks Camino Real · Waste · 3.2 MW · New Mexico
- Tenet Hospital · Oil · 4.2 MW · Texas
- Roadrunner Solar · Solar · 20.2 MW · New Mexico
- Phelps Dodge Refining · Gas · 19.6 MW · Texas
- Fort Bliss (DEA EPIC) · Solar · 2 MW · Texas
- Copper · Gas · 86.9 MW · Texas
Location
Coordinates 31.8047, -106.5472 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Rio Grande?
Rio Grande is a 399 MW gas power plant in New Mexico, United States of America, commissioned in 1981.
How much electricity does Rio Grande generate?
Rio Grande generates about 927 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Rio Grande?
Rio Grande is operated by El Paso Electric Co.