Wilkes — United States of America
Gas power plant in Texas, United States of America. Approximate location 32.8482, -94.548.
GasTexasUnited States of AmericaSteamCO₂ measured
Wilkes is a 882 MW gas power station in Texas, United States of America. It is operated by Southwestern Electric Power Co. Based on reported annual generation of 631 GWh, it can supply roughly 180k homes. It ranks #695 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1969, it is around 57 years old — an older, legacy facility. Its annual emissions of 666,062 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 155k 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 USA0003478.
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 · L100000402296; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 882 MW, Wilkes 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.
666,062 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
- 8%, from 631 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 774 GWh in 2014 and 631 GWh in 2019 (−18%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 774 GWh; 2019: 631 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- 0.1% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 133 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 Southwestern Electric Power Co. All plants by this company →
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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 32.8°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 51% 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: 29/100 — 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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness 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 #277 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
- Lone Star · Gas · 40 MW · Texas
- Snider Industries · Waste · 5 MW · Texas
- Welsh · Coal · 1,116 MW · Texas
- Welsh Power Plant · Coal · 1,674 MW · Texas
- Pirkey Power Plant · Coal · 721 MW · Texas
- Pirkey · Coal · 721 MW · Texas
Location
Coordinates 32.8482, -94.548 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Wilkes?
Wilkes is a 882 MW gas power plant in Texas, United States of America, commissioned in 1969.
How much electricity does Wilkes generate?
Wilkes generates about 631 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Wilkes?
Wilkes is operated by Southwestern Electric Power Co.
How much CO₂ does Wilkes emit?
Wilkes has measured emissions of about 666,062 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).