Citation
Megan M. Johnson, Shih-Chieh Kao and Rocio Uría-Martínez. 2026. U.S. Hydropower Retired Facilities Data, 2026. HydroSource. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. DOI: 10.21951/Retired_FY26/3374532
Overview
The U.S. Hydropower Retired Facilities Data, 2026 dataset documents hydropower and pumped‑storage facilities across the United States that have been fully retired from operation, spanning retirements from the 1960s through 2025. Records include detailed information such as plant identifiers, retirement year, geographic location, ownership, dam ownership, hydro type, FERC licensing or exemption status, operational mode (run‑of‑river, canal/conduit, peaking, intermediate peaking), commissioning year, and watershed classifications. It reflects major decommissioning trends, including retirements driven by aging infrastructure, environmental restoration (e.g., dam removals), and regulatory non‑renewals. This dataset provides a comprehensive foundation for analyzing the characteristics of retired hydropower assets, regional differences in retirements, and long‑term transitions in U.S. renewable energy infrastructure.