Hydro plantWA

Chief Joseph Dam

Listed by EIA as “Chief Joseph”.

About this record

Douglas County, WA. Reports to the Bonneville Power Administration balancing authorityThe organization that balances electricity supply and demand in a reporting area.Definition ↗.

2024 inventory / 2024 calendar year

Nameplate capacity, operating generatorsFull nameplate rating of the operating generators, before ownership shares. MW measures rated power; annual output is energy in MWh.Definition ↗
2,184.8MW
Source & method

Sum of generator nameplate MW with operational status code OP in the inventory year; one row per generator; unscaled by ownership

2024 inventory · reported · derived · valid · final

24 of 24 operating generators included.

out_eia__yearly_generators.parquet; report_date=2024-01-01; plant_id_eia=3921

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Net generationEnergy produced over the stated period after the plant’s own use, including signed storage output. Plant output is not allocated to owners or buyers.Definition ↗
9,227,828MWh
2024
Source & method

Sum of EIA-923 annual net generation over the plant's unique prime-mover x energy-source rows; negative values (pumping, station use) retained

2024 calendar year · reported · derived · valid · final

1 of 1 plant x prime-mover x fuel rows included.

out_eia923__yearly_generation_fuel_combined.parquet; report_date=2024-01-01; plant_id_eia=3921

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Capacity factor
0.481fraction
2024
Source & method

Net generation MWh / (operating nameplate MW x hours in year); only when every operating generator was operating before the year began and none retired during it

2024 calendar year · reported · derived · valid · final

derived: net_generation_mwh@2024 / (nameplate_mw_op x 8784 h)

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗

Output over time

Net generation · MWhElectricity produced after the plant’s own use. A negative value means it used more electricity than it produced.Definition ↗

Annual net generation · MWh. Bars below zero are negative net generation; a hollow mark means not reported. Missing years are not filled.

Annual values as a table · MWh
Reported annual net generation. Missing years are not filled.
Calendar yearNet generation · MWhEvidence
201511,462,296MWhreported · final
201611,638,206MWhreported · final
201711,422,433MWhreported · final
201812,352,466MWhreported · final
20199,854,017MWhreported · final
202011,863,203MWhreported · final
202110,981,266MWhreported · final
202212,476,970MWhreported · final
20239,390,736MWhreported · final
20249,227,828MWhreported · final

Sum of unique plant x prime-mover x fuel rows per year; negative values retained; missing years absent, not zero; no monthly curve inferred

Why capacity and output differ: field note ↗

Ownership & operation

Ownership basisHow a generator's owners were established: from EIA-860's ownership schedule (reported), from EIA's rule that a unit absent from a complete schedule is wholly owned by its operator (derived), or unknown.Definition ↗

Operating nameplate MW x ownership fraction, once per generator; reported schedule or EIA-860 schedule-4 default. Ownership source & rules ↗

Generators at this plant

Unscaled nameplateA generator’s rated maximum power, in MW. Capacity is a rating, not how much electricity it produced.Definition ↗
27 generators, including non-operating units where reported. Status is the inventory-year status.
GeneratorTechnology / statusWhether a generator or project is operating, planned, on standby or retired, as its source reports it.Definition ↗NameplateA generator’s rated maximum power, in MW. Capacity is a rating, not how much electricity it produced.Definition ↗ · MWOwnership basisHow a generator's owners were established: from EIA-860's ownership schedule (reported), from EIA's rule that a unit absent from a complete schedule is wholly owned by its operator (derived), or unknown.Definition ↗
1 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

10 Conventional Hydroelectricout_of_service_short_term (OA)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

11 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

12 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

13 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

14 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

15 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

16 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

17 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

18 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

19 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

2 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

20 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

21 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

22 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

23 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

24 Conventional Hydroelectricout_of_service_short_term (OA)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

25 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

26 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

27 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)95MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 95MW owned · reported, derived

3 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

4 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

5 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

6 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

7 Conventional Hydroelectricout_of_service_short_term (OA)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

8 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

9 Conventional Hydroelectricoperating (OP)88.2MW
EIA schedule default · derived

Generator absent from a complete Schedule 4 with ownership code S and known operator: wholly owned by the operator per EIA instructions (derived)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division · 1 fraction · 88.2MW owned · reported, derived

Dam and river

Reviewed identity · 2026-09-21
  • Chief Joseph DamNational Inventory of Dams WA00299· Hydropower is a reported purpose in the NID. Associated power plant is included in the EHA.
    usace-nid
  • Chief JosephColumbia River
    EHA hc0215_p01ornl-eha-2026
  • HUC-12 watershed
    170200050405ornl-hilarri-v4
  • NHDPlus reach
    23057772ornl-hilarri-v4

EHA 2026 EIA_PtID 3921 = EIA plant; state WA; EHA point 0.53 km from EIA point; names share a token; HILARRI v4 links EHA id to NID WA00299 (Chief Joseph Dam, Columbia River), NID point 0.22 km from EIA point; NID purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation. These rows identify the same structures across inventories; they carry no generation, storage or flow figures.Link evidence ↗

CO2 filed by EPA-monitored units

2024

This plant has no coal, gas, oil or waste generator, so it has no combustion unit for EPA to monitor and no CEMS data exists. That is not a claim of zero emissions: the atlas reports only what EPA-monitored units filed. Source

Latest inventoryThe newest complete monthly inventory, with dated status and capacity changes beside the annual baseline totals.Definition ↗ · August 2026

Operating

8 of 27 units changed since the baseline inventory: 11 status changed (August 2026); 12 status changed (August 2026); 13 status changed (August 2026); 19 status changed (August 2026); and 4 more.

Operating nameplate capacity, latest inventoryOperating nameplate MW in this monthly inventory. Compare it with the annual baseline; do not add the two inventories together.Definition ↗
1,743.8MW
· provisional
Source & method

Sum of nameplate MW over generators whose current-valid EIA-860M workbook assertion has status OP; dated by the complete inventory edition; never added to the baseline aggregate

2026-08-01 · reported · derived · valid · provisional

27 of 27 current and historical generators included.

Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, August 2026; plant_id_eia=3921; report_date=2026-08-01

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Planned nameplate capacity, latest inventoryNameplate MW proposed or under construction in this monthly inventory, separate from operating MW. Planned dates are forecasts.Definition ↗
Not applicable
· provisional
Source & method

Sum of nameplate MW over generators whose current-valid EIA-860M workbook assertion is a proposal or construction stage (P, L, T, U, V, OT, TS); a proposal is not a commitment and its date is a forecast

2026-08-01 · reported · derived · not_applicable · provisional

27 of 27 current and historical generators included.

Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, August 2026; plant_id_eia=3921; report_date=2026-08-01

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Retired or cancelled nameplate capacity, latest inventory
Not applicable
· provisional
Source & method

Sum of nameplate MW over generators whose current-valid EIA-860M workbook assertion is retired, cancelled or indefinitely postponed (RE, CN, IP); retired is not demolished

2026-08-01 · reported · derived · not_applicable · provisional

27 of 27 current and historical generators included.

Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, August 2026; plant_id_eia=3921; report_date=2026-08-01

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Units whose current EIA-860M assertion differs from the baseline inventory year.
UnitChangeAs ofBaseline → latest statusNameplate · MW
11status changedAugust 2026OP → OA88.2MW → 88.2MW
12status changedAugust 2026OP → OA88.2MW → 88.2MW
13status changedAugust 2026OP → OA88.2MW → 88.2MW
19status changedAugust 2026OP → OA95MW → 95MW
24entered serviceAugust 2026OA → OP95MW → 95MW
7status changedAugust 2026OA → OS88.2MW → 88.2MW
8status changedAugust 2026OP → OS88.2MW → 88.2MW
9status changedAugust 2026OP → OA88.2MW → 88.2MW

Lifecycle of the units

Each unit's operating span from its reported operating date to its retirement date or to the August 2026 inventory (the vertical line). Dashed spans start at a planned operating date, a forecast; a short bar marks a planned retirement. Standby and out-of-service units are hatched.

Units as a table
Unit lifecycle from EIA-860M, August 2026.
UnitStateOperating sincePlannedRetiredMW
1OperatingOctober 1958——88.2MW
10Standby or out of serviceSeptember 1955——88.2MW
11Standby or out of serviceSeptember 1955——88.2MW
12Standby or out of serviceSeptember 1955——88.2MW
13Standby or out of serviceFebruary 1957——88.2MW
14OperatingJuly 1957——88.2MW
15OperatingSeptember 1957——88.2MW
16OperatingNovember 1957——88.2MW
17OperatingJuly 1977——95MW
18OperatingAugust 1977——95MW
19Standby or out of serviceNovember 1977——95MW
2OperatingJuly 1958——88.2MW
20OperatingJune 1978——95MW
21OperatingJune 1978——95MW
22OperatingJune 1978——95MW
23OperatingSeptember 1978——95MW
24OperatingJanuary 1979——95MW
25OperatingJanuary 1979——95MW
26OperatingFebruary 1979——95MW
27OperatingMay 1979——95MW
3OperatingMay 1958——88.2MW
4OperatingFebruary 1958——88.2MW
5OperatingFebruary 1957——88.2MW
6OperatingDecember 1956——88.2MW
7Standby or out of serviceNovember 1956——88.2MW
8Standby or out of serviceSeptember 1956——88.2MW
9Standby or out of serviceDecember 1955——88.2MW

Independently dated by EIA-860M; the baseline facts above stay the validated edition. Planned dates are forecasts; retired is not demolished.

Claimed in Washington’s fuel mix by

CY2024

Washington Fuel Mix Disclosure claims on this plant for CY2024, the latest year loaded; several suppliers can claim one plant; a claim attributes retail sales, it is not a wire or a share of ownership

Geographic & reporting context

Balancing authority: Bonneville Power Administration

Approximate service areasAn approximate utility service area. The boundary cannot identify the supplier for a particular address.Definition ↗ containing the plant’s location. A geographic candidate, not a supply relationship.

Nearby transmission Context, not a connection

Within 3 km of the reported plant point, nearest first. BPA’s published lines, HIFLD-compiled lines of other owners and HIFLD 2022 substations; nearness does not establish an electrical connection.

Additional inventory facts

Generators listed
27count
Source & method

Generator rows for the plant in the inventory year, any status

2024 inventory · reported · derived · valid · final

out_eia__yearly_generators.parquet; report_date=2024-01-01; plant_id_eia=3921

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Operating generators
24count
Source & method

Generator rows with status code OP

2024 inventory · reported · derived · valid · final

out_eia__yearly_generators.parquet; report_date=2024-01-01; plant_id_eia=3921

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗
Nameplate capacity, existing but not operating (standby / out of service)
271.4MW
Source & method

Sum of generator nameplate MW with status category existing and code other than OP (SB, OS, OA)

2024 inventory · reported · derived · valid · final

out_eia__yearly_generators.parquet; report_date=2024-01-01; plant_id_eia=3921

Publisher & attribution ↗ Cite this released fact ↗

Sources for this record

Frozen citation page ↗

Existing Hydropower Assets (EHA) Plant Database, 2026 (published 2026-07-06, revised 2026-07-16; DOI 10.21951/EHA_FY2026/3374497)

Megan M. Johnson, Shih-Chieh Kao and Rocio Uría-Martínez. 2026. Existing Hydropower Assets (EHA) Plant Database, 2026. HydroSource. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. DOI: 10.21951/EHA_FY2026/3374497

Only the EHA plant identifier, plant name and water body of reviewed rows are republished, as identity beside the EIA plant; EHA capacity and generation are not loaded and never enter any total. An EHA record without an EIA plant id has no entity here.

Hydropower Infrastructure – LAkes, Reservoirs, and RIvers (HILARRI), Version 4 (2026-05-05; DOI 10.21951/HILARRI/3362570; links EHA 2025 plants to NID dams of 2025-08-18, GRanD v1.3, NHDPlusV2 and HUC12)

Hansen, C. H., Matson, P. G., Bozeman, B. B., Turner, S. W. D. 2026. Hydropower Infrastructure – LAkes, Reservoirs, and RIvers (HILARRI) v4. HydroSource. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. DOI: 10.21951/HILARRI/3362570

A crosswalk of identifiers, not attributes: the HILARRI row id and its GRanD, NHDPlusV2 flowline and HUC12 ids are republished for reviewed rows only. HILARRI's own quality flags are kept on each row; a link is not a reservoir volume, a flow or a generation series.

National Inventory of Dams, national export dated 2026-09-11 (dam id, name, river, purposes and coordinates used to verify each HILARRI dam link)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (export of 2026-09-11)

The NID id and dam name identify the structure the plant sits at, as HILARRI links it and the 2026-09-11 export confirms it. NID purposes are recorded on the row as the inventory states them (Grand Coulee's NID record lists no hydroelectric purpose). Dam height, storage and hazard fields are not loaded.

Display names and aliases (pipeline/config/crosswalks/aliases.csv)

Display names verified against each organization's own website; EIA legal names retained as aliases

A display name is the name an organization uses for itself; the EIA name stays searchable and on the record. Each row cites the page that shows the name.

PUDL v2026.9.0, out_eia__yearly_plants

Catalyst Cooperative, PUDL v2026.9.0, derived from U.S. EIA Forms 860/923

Data transformed by PUDL from U.S. EIA forms; selected fields republished; EIA data is public with dated acknowledgment (https://www.eia.gov/about/copyrights_reuse.php)

PUDL v2026.9.0, out_eia__yearly_generators

Catalyst Cooperative, PUDL v2026.9.0, derived from U.S. EIA Forms 860/923

Data transformed by PUDL from U.S. EIA forms; selected fields republished; EIA data is public with dated acknowledgment (https://www.eia.gov/about/copyrights_reuse.php)

PUDL v2026.9.0, out_eia860__yearly_ownership

Catalyst Cooperative, PUDL v2026.9.0, derived from U.S. EIA Forms 860/923

Data transformed by PUDL from U.S. EIA forms; selected fields republished; EIA data is public with dated acknowledgment (https://www.eia.gov/about/copyrights_reuse.php)

PUDL v2026.9.0, out_eia923__yearly_generation_fuel_combined

Catalyst Cooperative, PUDL v2026.9.0, derived from U.S. EIA Forms 860/923

Data transformed by PUDL from U.S. EIA forms; selected fields republished; EIA data is public with dated acknowledgment (https://www.eia.gov/about/copyrights_reuse.php)

Release 20260929T050546Z-51ae0f7d3c78 · Record JSON