University of Washington Power Plant — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 54809
- Capacity
- 15 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Oil
- Technology
- Natural Gas Steam Turbine, Petroleum Liquids
- Status
- Standby
- Location
- King, WA
- Operating Since
- 1993
- Generators
- 7
- Operator
- University of Washington
- Parent Company
- —
- Annual Generation
- 1,755.1 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 1.3%
- Balancing Authority
- Seattle City Light
- ISO/RTO
- —
- NERC Region
- WECC
University of Washington Power Plant
StandbyDistillate OilNatural GasHybrid
Ranked #1 of 4 Distillate Oil plants in WA#202 of 827 nationally
15 MW Natural Gas Steam Turbine (3 MW) + Petroleum Liquids (12 MW) standby in King, WA — Seattle City Light
EIAWD
15 MW
Nameplate Capacity
7
Generators
units
Hybrid (2)
Technology
Natural Gas Steam Turbine + Petroleum Liquids
1993
Operating Since
Location
Coordinates
42.1238, -83.1877
County
King, WA
Nearby Plants
- Trenton Channel Energy CenterBESS220 MW · 0.2 km
- Riverview Energy SystemsLandfill Gas6.6 MW · 5.1 km
- WyandotteDistillate Oil48.9 MW · 10.0 km
Ownership & Operator
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | University of Washington | — | — |
| Owner(s) | University of Washington | — | — |
| Status | Standby | — | — |
Ownership Chain
No GEM tracker match for this plant — ownership chain unavailable.
About
The University of Washington Power Plant, located in King County, Washington, has a total capacity of 15 MW across 7 generators. The plant began operating in 1993 and is operated by the University of Washington. The primary fuel source is distillate fuel oil (DFO), but the plant utilizes both natural gas steam turbine and petroleum liquids technologies, classifying it as a hybrid facility.
The plant operates within the Seattle City Light balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region. In the most recent year with available data, the plant generated 1,755 MWh, resulting in a capacity factor of 1.3%. The University of Washington Power Plant holds a rank of 1 out of 4 similar plants in Washington state, and a national rank of 245 out of 886.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
Seattle City Light
Grid Voltage
26 kV
Regulatory Status
NR
Entity Type
State
Sector
Commercial CHP
Generation
8 MWh
Latest Month
1.8K MWh
Annual Generation
1.3%
Capacity Factor
Jan 2023 – 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·technology
WA lawmakers push for state to embrace nuclear energy
OLYMPIA — The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is looking for a home for a new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus (NLIC),...
United States Department of Energy (regulator)
Lynden Tribune·1 weeks ago
Regulatory·state puc
Coal power in Washington Legislature’s crosshairs after talk of Centralia plant’s revival
The Washington House of Representatives on Thursday approved a new coal tax that targets a single company.
Washington House of Representatives (regulator)
KUOW·4 weeks ago
General
WA lawmakers push for state to embrace nuclear energy
The DOE is looking for a home for a new nuclear energy site (the NLIC), and Rep. Barnard believes WA is the perfect fit.
Lynnwood Times·4 weeks ago
Industry
Inside WA’s messy breakup with Montana coal country
COLSTRIP, Mont. — For over half a century, Puget Sound Energy, Washington state's largest utility, has been intertwined with this company...
Puget Sound Energy (operator)
The Seattle Times·4 weeks ago
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles