Iowa State University
Story County, Iowa · EIA plant ID 54201 · Operator: Iowa State University
×6 MW natural gas retired since 2020 (latest Jul 2021)
Nameplate40MWSummer 40 MW
Generators3in service
Net generation73GWh12 mo to Aug 2026
Capacity factor21%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate5,593Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online1970Runs as intermediate
The 12-month figures include preliminary EIA-923 months, which EIA revises. Final data runs through Dec 2025.
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 117.8 | 39.7% | 12,854 |
| 2002 | 111.9 | 37.7% | 13,054 |
| 2003 | 118.9 | 39.9% | 13,337 |
| 2004 | 119.5 | 42.1% | 6,900 |
| 2005 | 149.7 | 41.5% | 6,693 |
| 2006 | 154.1 | 38.1% | 6,900 |
| 2007 | 156.6 | 38.7% | 6,427 |
| 2008 | 154 | 38.0% | 6,427 |
| 2009 | 126.3 | 31.2% | 6,900 |
| 2010 | 130.2 | 32.2% | 6,509 |
| 2011 | 128.1 | 31.7% | 6,427 |
| 2012 | 130.6 | 32.2% | 6,427 |
| 2013 | 125.5 | 31.0% | 6,427 |
| 2014 | 114.8 | 28.4% | 6,427 |
| 2015 | 114.1 | 28.2% | 6,427 |
| 2016 | 100.1 | 24.7% | 6,005 |
| 2017 | 107.2 | 26.5% | 5,964 |
| 2018 | 108.5 | 26.8% | 5,629 |
| 2019 | 106.5 | 26.3% | 5,593 |
| 2020 | 95 | 23.4% | 5,593 |
| 2021 | 99.8 | 28.6% | 5,593 |
| 2022 | 99.1 | 28.4% | 5,593 |
| 2023 | 70.7 | 20.2% | 5,593 |
| 2024 | 86.3 | 24.6% | 5,593 |
| 2025 | 80.9 | 23.2% | 5,593 |
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN3 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 13.2 | 13.3 | Sep 1978 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| GEN5 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 11.5 | 11.5 | Mar 1970 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| GEN6 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 15.1 | 15.1 | May 2005 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| 1 | Conventional Steam Coal | ST | 3 | 3 | Jun 1949 | Retired Jun 2004 | — | coming soon |
| GEN4 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 6.2 | — | Oct 1960 | Retired Jul 2021 | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: Iowa State University. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| Iowa State University | 100.0% | 40 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| Ames Electric Services Power Plant | 109 MW | 2.5 km |
| IA - City of Ames - Airport Road | 2 MW | 3.3 km |
| Ames GT | 79 MW | 4.7 km |
| NCAH Central Utility Plant | 14 MW | 5.4 km |
| ISU Customer Hosted 1MW Solar Project | 1 MW | 5.5 km |
| Michelangelo Wind 4 LLC | 3 MW | 7.5 km |