Shawnee — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 1379
- Capacity
- 1575 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Coal
- Technology
- Conventional Steam Coal
- Status
- Operating
- Location
- McCracken, KY
- Operating Since
- 1953
- Generators
- 9
- Operator
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Parent Company
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Annual Generation
- 6,961,734 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 55.1%
- Balancing Authority
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- ISO/RTO
- —
- NERC Region
- SERC
Shawnee
OperatingSub. Coal
Ranked #1 of 1 Sub. Coal plants in KY#24 of 103 nationally
1575 MW Sub. Coal operating in McCracken, KY — Tennessee Valley Authority
EIAWD
1,575 MW
Nameplate Capacity
9
Generators
units
Conventional Steam Coal
Technology
1953
Operating Since
Location
Coordinates
37.1517, -88.7750
County
McCracken, KY
Nearby Plants
- Gage SolarSolar200 MW · 6.1 km
- Western 102 Power PlantNatural Gas118.6 MW · 19.3 km
- Pulaski SolarSolar417.4 MW · 20.1 km
Ownership & Operator
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Tennessee Valley Authority | Tennessee Valley Authority | — |
| Owner(s) | Tennessee Valley Authority | Tennessee Valley Authority | — |
| Status | Operating | — | — |
Ownership Chain
About
The Shawnee Fossil Plant is a coal-fired power plant owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, located near Paducah, Kentucky. The closest city is Metropolis, Illinois, across the Ohio River to the northeast. The Shawnee Fossil Plant was created with the intentions of providing sufficient electricity to the national defense industry escalating demand for power which could not be met with the Commonwealth of Kentucky's then-current infrastructure. The plant also provided economic growth to the area in the post-WWII era creating jobs and a stronger infrastructure to support future state developments.
Read more on WikipediaThe Shawnee power plant is a 1,575 MW coal-fired power plant located in McCracken County, Kentucky. It began operating in 1953 and is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The plant utilizes conventional steam coal technology and subbituminous coal (SUB) as its primary fuel source. Shawnee consists of 9 generating units.
The plant is the largest in Kentucky and ranks 20th out of 75 coal plants nationally. In the latest year with available data, Shawnee generated 6,961,734 MWh of electricity, operating at a capacity factor of 55.1%. The plant is located within the Tennessee Valley Authority balancing authority and the SERC NERC region.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
SERC
Balancing Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
Grid Voltage
161 kV
Regulatory Status
RE
Entity Type
Federal
Sector
Electric Utility
Generation
632.5K MWh
Latest Month
7.0M MWh
Annual Generation
55.1%
Capacity Factor
Dec 2022 – Dec 2025
Financial Data
No financial data available for this plant.
Pricing & Market Data
This plant is outside organized wholesale electricity markets (ISOs/RTOs). Nodal pricing data is not available.
News & Articles (10)Beta
Industry·corporate
As Bull Run smokestacks fall, Tennessee Valley Authority plans for future
The implosion of the Tennessee Valley Authority's Bull Run Fossil Plant marks a transition to clean energy for utility.
Tennessee Valley Authority (operator)Bull Run Fossil Plant (operator)
Tennessee Lookout·8 months ago
Grid·capacity addition
TVA project adds solar power to Kentucky fossil fuel site
The country's largest public power provider is building a large-scale solar field on a closed coal ash site at its Shawnee Fossil Plant site...
Tennessee Valley Authority (operator)Shawnee Fossil Plant (operator)
WKMS·9 months ago
Grid·capacity addition
TVA expands energy production at Shawnee
The Tennessee Valley Authority is expanding its energy production capability at the Shawnee Fossil Plant in McCracken County.
Tennessee Valley Authority (operator)Shawnee Fossil Plant (operator)
West Kentucky Star·9 months ago
Industry·corporate
TVA confirms intent to extend coal plant lifespans, plans for nuclear in Kentucky
The Tennessee Valley Authority says it intends to extend the lifespan of its existing coal plants in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Tennessee Valley Authority (operator)
WKU Public Radio·9 months ago
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles