# French Island

MISO asset profile · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/french-island

## Current generation inventory

EIA plant 4005 · Inventory reporting month: 2026-08.

- biomass: 30.4 MW operating nameplate
- petroleum: 157.6 MW operating nameplate
- Capacity basis: operating_generator_nameplate_mw
- Source inventory: [EIA-860M workbook (preliminary)](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860m/xls/august_generator2026.xlsx)
- Inventory retrieved: 2026-10-10T02:12:40.665346+00:00
- Filed coordinate (longitude, latitude): -91.2597, 43.8292
- OSM extract: 2026-10-08T20:21:06Z
- OSM mapped edit: 2024-05-30 11:43:09+00:00
- Map prepared: 2026-10-10T02:28:21.651065+00:00

Battery power (MW) and stored energy (MWh) are separate measures. Shared physical-site membership does not establish electrical connectivity, settlement or a common export limit.

## Reviewed overview

French Island is a Xcel Energy power plant in La Crosse, Wisconsin that generates electricity from municipal trash and wood waste. Built in the 1940s as a coal plant and converted to oil in 1972, its two generating units now burn wood waste, railroad ties and processed municipal solid waste. It incinerates about 72,000 tons a year, supplied under a contract with La Crosse County extended through 2030.

## Reviewed metrics

- **Nameplate capacity:** 188 MW — Canonical EIA plant baseline.
- **Registry anchor:** Plant 4005 — plant-4005

## Facts

- **Technology:** Municipal Solid Waste, Petroleum Liquids
- **Operator:** Xcel Energy
- **Operating status:** Operating

## Related parties

- **Owner / operator:** Xcel Energy — owner ([source](https://www.xcelenergy.com))
- **Fuel supplier:** La Crosse County — fuel_supplier ([source](https://www.lacrossecounty.org))

## Sources

- [news8000.com](https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/la-crosse/xcel-energy-french-island-plant-taking-more-garbage-to-convert-to-power/article_88995610-9728-5287-baec-844c882cd49b.html) — news8000.com · public_source — Source retained for exact-record publication review.
- [wpr.org](https://www.wpr.org/energy/in-barron-county-burning-trash-powers-light-bulbs-and-cheesemakers) — wpr.org · public_source — Source retained for exact-record publication review.

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Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/french-island
Website: [Xcel Energy](https://www.xcelenergy.com)

Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/