South Dakota has 53 power plants in the EIA (Energy Information Administration) database, with a combined installed capacity of 7,218 MW. Renewables (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass) account for 62% of plants in the state. The largest single facility is Oahe, a Hydroelectric plant with 714 MW of capacity.
Use the interactive South Dakota power plants map below to explore every generating facility, color-coded by fuel type. Click any plant for its name, utility operator, capacity, technology, and location — or view the full US Power Plants Interactive Map to compare South Dakota to every other state.
South Dakota Power Plants by the Numbers
- 53 total power plants in South Dakota (EIA (Energy Information Administration))
- 7,218 MW total installed generating capacity
- 62% of plants use renewable energy sources
- Dominant fuel type: Wind
South Dakota Power Plants by Fuel Type
- Wind: 25 plants (3,460 MW capacity)
- Natural Gas: 11 plants (1,295 MW capacity)
- Petroleum: 8 plants (173 MW capacity)
- Hydroelectric: 4 plants (1,598 MW capacity)
- Solar: 3 plants (209 MW capacity)
- Coal: 1 plants (478 MW capacity)
- Biomass: 1 plants (5 MW capacity)
The 15 Largest Power Plants in South Dakota
The largest power plant in South Dakota by installed capacity is Oahe at 714 MW. The 15 largest South Dakota power plants from the EIA (Energy Information Administration):
| # | Plant Name | Utility | Capacity | Fuel Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oahe | USACE-Omaha | 714 MW | Hydroelectric | Pierre, Hughes |
| 2 | Big Bend Dam | USACE-Omaha | 520 MW | Hydroelectric | Chamberlain, Buffalo |
| 3 | Big Stone | Otter Tail Power Co | 478 MW | Coal | Big Stone City, Grant |
| 4 | Fort Randall | USACE-Omaha | 360 MW | Hydroelectric | Pickstown, Charles Mix |
| 5 | Angus Anson | Northern States Power Co – Minnesota | 327 MW | Natural Gas | Sioux Falls, Minnehaha |
| 6 | Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC | Southern Power Co | 300 MW | Wind | Clear Lake, Deuel |
| 7 | Dakota Range Wind | Northern States Power Co – Minnesota | 298 MW | Wind | Marvin, Grant |
| 8 | Deer Creek Station | Basin Electric Power Coop | 295 MW | Natural Gas | White, Brookings |
| 9 | Triple H Wind Project | Engie North America | 250 MW | Wind | Highmore, Hyde |
| 10 | Astoria Station | Otter Tail Power Co | 243 MW | Natural Gas | Astoria, Deuel |
| 11 | Prevailing Wind Park | AES Distributed Energy | 220 MW | Wind | Lesterville, Yankton |
| 12 | Buffalo Ridge II LLC | Avangrid Power LLC | 210 MW | Wind | Elkton, Brookings |
| 13 | Crowned Ridge Wind II Energy Center | Northern States Power Co – Minnesota | 201 MW | Wind | Watertown, Codington |
| 14 | Crowned Ridge Wind Energy Center | Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC | 200 MW | Wind | Watertown, Codington |
| 15 | Crocker Wind Farm | Crocker Wind Farm, LLC | 200 MW | Wind | Conde, Clark |
Energy Regulation in South Dakota
Power generation in South Dakota is overseen by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, in coordination with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). All generating facilities above 1 MW are required to report to the EIA, which maintains the official database used in this map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many power plants are in South Dakota?
South Dakota has 53 power plants according to the EIA (Energy Information Administration). The dominant fuel type is Wind, and total installed capacity is 7,218 MW.
What is the largest power plant in South Dakota?
The largest power plant in South Dakota is Oahe, a Hydroelectric facility with 714 MW of generating capacity.
What percentage of South Dakota power plants use renewable energy?
62% of power plants in South Dakota use renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass).
Who regulates power plants in South Dakota?
Power generation in South Dakota is regulated by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission at the state level, with federal oversight from FERC and NERC.
