This service contains information collected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Information consists of points representing operable electric generating plants in the United States by energy source and polygons representing hydropower project boundaries.

The point layer represents plants that are operating, on standby, or short- or long-term out of service. The surveys collect data on all plants with a combined nameplate capacity of 1 MW or more. Source: EIA-860, Annual Electric Generator Report, EIA-860M, Monthly Update to the Annual Electric Generator Report, and EIA-923, Power Plant Operations Report. The data period is April 2020 and updated in September 2021 to reflect energy sources located within the State of North Carolina for Transportation Planning Purposes.

The polygon layer represents basic information about the Hydropower Project Owner and hydropower project boundary. The FERC lists of active licenses and exemptions were used to identify general site information. FERC and North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) documentation was reviewed for more specific location information (e.g., county, nearest city, waterbody). When available, hydropower project boundary descriptions, maps, or shoreline management plans (SMPs) were reviewed and incorporated. Any relevant, credible information pertaining to the project site location and boundaries were incorporated, including property address, land ownership or general description, nearest roadway intersection, or property metes and bounds descriptions. Project locations were digitized within ArcGIS Desktop, utilizing the North Carolina statewide parcel boundary database from NC One Map, as well as aerial imagery. All properties relating to a FERC licensed or exempted facility were buffered by a 1,000-foot radius and merged into a single shape to represent the individual FERC licensed or exempted property.

This data is primarily intended for use by the NCDOT ATLAS application. The site and project areas have not been verified by the NCDOT and user assumes all risks.

The FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance issues licenses and exemptions for the operation of nonfederal hydropower projects. Licenses and exemptions define the hydropower project boundary and contain requirements with which the Hydropower Project Owner must comply.