Blue Lake

Scott County, Minnesota · EIA plant ID 8027 · Operator: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota

Natural gasNatural Gas Fired Combustion TurbineNatural Gas Internal Combustion Engine⛽ Dual-fuelMISOBA: MISO

×227 MW oil retired since 2020 (latest May 2025)

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Nameplate362MWSummer 328 MW

Generators5in service

Net generation435GWh12 mo to Dec 2025

Capacity factor14%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW

Heat rate11,374Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV

First online2005Runs as peaking

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	14.1	0.9%	18,942
2002	2.1	0.1%	—
2003	4.6	0.3%	22,919
2004	3	0.2%	27,871
2005	140.5	4.5%	11,120
2006	146.5	3.4%	11,330
2007	139.3	3.2%	11,746
2008	15	0.4%	16,707
2009	13.4	0.3%	16,047
2010	117.4	2.9%	11,383
2011	95	2.4%	11,338
2012	246.5	6.2%	11,109
2013	109.1	2.8%	11,458
2014	25.1	0.6%	17,817
2015	69.3	1.8%	11,708
2016	197.5	5.0%	10,925
2017	79.9	2.0%	11,569
2018	105.3	2.6%	10,915
2019	67	1.7%	11,552
2020	152.7	3.8%	10,622
2021	145.2	3.7%	11,784
2022	88.4	2.2%	11,711
2023	63.1	1.6%	12,292
2024	317.7	8.0%	10,709
2025	434.8	14.1%	11,374

Fuel capability

Gas-fired turbines (CT/GT/CA/CS) that can also burn liquid fuel. EIA-860 Schedule 3 for capability, EIA-923 for actual burn.

StatusLikely still dual fuel

Liquid fuel burned · 36 mo26,368 MMBtu

Last month with liquid burnNov 2025

Switch while operating—

Net summer MW on gas—

Net summer MW on oil—

Time gas → oilup to 1 h (EIA 1H)

Time oil → gasup to 1 h (EIA 1H)

⚠ EIA-860 vs 923: 923 shows liquid fuel burn in gas turbines but 860 lists no oil capability.

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
7	Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine	GT	166.3	150	Jun 2005	Operating · retirement planned	Dec 2029	coming soon
8	Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine	GT	166.3	150	Jun 2005	Operating · retirement planned	Dec 2029	coming soon
BLL09	Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine	IC	9.8	9.4	Dec 2025	Operating	—	coming soon
BLL10	Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine	IC	9.8	9.4	Dec 2025	Operating	—	coming soon
BLL11	Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine	IC	9.8	9.4	Dec 2025	Operating	—	coming soon
5	Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine	GT	150	145	planned Jun 2005	not_current	—	coming soon
6	Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine	GT	150	145	planned Jun 2005	not_current	—	coming soon
1	Petroleum Liquids	GT	56.7	36	Mar 1974	Retired May 2025	—	coming soon
2	Petroleum Liquids	GT	56.7	36	Mar 1974	Retired May 2025	—	coming soon
3	Petroleum Liquids	GT	56.7	36	Mar 1974	Retired May 2025	—	coming soon
4	Petroleum Liquids	GT	56.7	39	Apr 1974	Retired May 2025	—	coming soon

Owner / operator

Operator: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).

Northern States Power Co - Minnesota

100.0%

362 MW

Nearby plants

Within 80 km.

Blue Lake BESS	—	0.4 km
Blue Lake Solar	3 MW	1.2 km
Shakopee Met Council WTP	1 MW	1.3 km
Shakopee Energy Park	47 MW	3.9 km
Koda Biomass Plant	23 MW	8.5 km
EKS Landfill	retired	9.7 km