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Canton North Carolina52.5 MW Coal

Coal

Canton North Carolina is a 52.5 MW coal and waste power plant in the United States, operated by Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc since 1953. Ranked #262 of 297 coal plants in the United States, this plant's 52.5 MW represents 0.02% of the country's total coal capacity of 261,836 MW. The largest coal plant in the United States is W A Parish at 4,008 MW, making Canton North Carolina 76 times smaller. Nearby plants include Asheville (1131.1 MW, Gas), Walters (108 MW, Hydro), and Thorpe (21.6 MW, Hydro). The facility is located in North Carolina, approximately 30 km west of Asheville.

Capacity
52.5 MW
Commissioning Year
1953

73 years old

Owner
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc
Location
35.5350°, -82.8411°

United States of America, North America

Location

Coordinates:: 35.535000, -82.841100
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Carbon Footprint820 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
207.4 Kt
253 GWh/year × 820 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
15.14 Mt
Over 73 years of operation
Past Retirement
1993
33 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
45.1K
cars per year
27.7K
homes per year
9.4M
trees to offset

Estimates based on Coal emission factor (820 g CO₂/kWh) and capacity factor (55%). Actual emissions may vary based on operating conditions, efficiency, and fuel quality.

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Coal
Energy Source
Non-Renewable
Country
United States of America
Continent
North America
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

United States of AmericaEnergy Profile

10,047
Total Plants
1386.4 GW
Total Capacity
GasCoalNuclearHydro
Top Fuels

Understanding Coal as a Power Generation Energy Source

Coal has long been a cornerstone of electricity generation worldwide, with a significant presence in the global energy landscape. As of recent data, there are approximately 2,608 coal power plants operating across 74 countries, boasting a total installed capacity of 2,257.3 gigawatts (GW). The leading nations in coal power generation include China, with 1,018 plants generating 1,038.0 GW, India with 287 plants at 253.3 GW, and the United States with 291 plants producing 252.0 GW. Other notable contributors include Germany and Japan, with 130 plants and 76.8 GW, and 61 plants and 63.9 GW, respectively. This widespread utilization reflects the essential role coal has played in the development of industrial and residential power systems globally.

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