Overview
Elephant Butte is a 27.9 MW hydroelectric power plant in New Mexico, United States, operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It provides renewable energy to the region.
Elephant Butte is a hydroelectric power plant located in New Mexico, United States, with a capacity of 27.9 MW. It is owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, a federal agency under the Department of the Interior. The plant is part of the larger Elephant Butte Dam project, which serves multiple purposes including irrigation, flood control, and recreation. The facility operates as a conventional hydroelectric plant, utilizing the water stored behind Elephant Butte Dam on the Rio Grande. With a capacity of 27.9 MW, it falls within the small-to-medium scale for hydroelectric plants in the United States. The plant's technology is typical for run-of-river or reservoir-based hydroelectric systems, where water flow drives turbines to generate electricity. As a renewable energy source, Elephant Butte contributes to the region's clean energy portfolio and helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The plant's operation is regulated under federal guidelines, including compliance with the Clean Water Act and other environmental standards. Its location in the arid Southwest highlights the importance of water resource management for both power generation and agricultural needs.
Environmental context
The plant's hydroelectric generation produces no direct CO2, SOx, or NOx emissions, making it a low-carbon energy source. However, the reservoir can affect local ecosystems by altering water flow and temperature downstream. The facility's location in a semi-arid region means water availability is a key environmental factor, with potential impacts on aquatic habitats and riparian zones. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation manages these aspects through operational protocols and environmental assessments.
Frequently asked questions
Elephant Butte hydroelectric plant is located in New Mexico, United States, on the Rio Grande at the Elephant Butte Dam.
The Elephant Butte hydroelectric plant has a capacity of 27.9 megawatts (MW).
Elephant Butte hydroelectric plant is owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
US hydroelectric plants must comply with the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing requirements, which include environmental impact assessments and mitigation measures.
As a hydroelectric plant, Elephant Butte generates electricity without direct greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the US renewable energy portfolio and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.