Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Location | Lewiston, New York |
Coordinates | 43°08′35″N 79°02′23″W / 43.14306°N 79.03972°WCoordinates: 43°08′35″N 79°02′23″W / 43.14306°N 79.03972°W |
Purpose | Power |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1957 |
Opening date | 1961 |
Construction cost | US$800 million (1957) |
Owner(s) | New York Power Authority |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Gravity dam |
Impounds | Niagara River |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Moses Niagara Power Plant forebay |
Total capacity | 740,000,000 US gal (2.8×109 l; 620,000,000 imp gal) |
Power station | |
Commission date | 1961 |
Type | Conventional |
Turbines | 13 |
Installed capacity | 2,525 MW (3,386,000 hp) |
Website http://www.nypa.gov/facilities/niagara.htm |
|
Works in conjunction with the Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant |
Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Location | Lewiston, New York |
Purpose | Power |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1957 |
Opening date | 1961 |
Owner(s) | New York Power Authority |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Gravity dam |
Impounds | Moses Niagara Power Plant forebay |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Lewiston Reservoir |
Total capacity | 22,000,000,000 US gal (8.3×1010 l; 1.8×1010 imp gal) |
Surface area | 1,900 acres (770 ha) |
Power station | |
Coordinates | 43°08′35″N 79°01′18.4″W / 43.14306°N 79.021778°W |
Commission date | 1961 |
Type | Pumped-storage |
Turbines | 12 |
Website http://www.nypa.gov/facilities/niagara.htm |
|
Works in conjunction with the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant |
The Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station is a hydroelectric power station in Lewiston, New York, near Niagara Falls. Owned and operated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the plant diverts water from the Niagara River above Niagara Falls and returns the water into the lower portion of the river near Lake Ontario. It uses 13 generators at an installed capacity of 2,525 megawatts (3,386,000 hp).
Named for New York city planner Robert Moses, the plant was built to replace power production after a nearby hydroelectric plant collapsed in 1956. It stands across the river from Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations in Ontario, Canada.
The land that the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant occupies has a long history of use. In 1805, Augustus and Peter Porter of Buffalo, New York, purchased the American Falls from New York in a public auction, and later acquired the rights to the eastern rapids above the falls as well, but died before they could bring their vision of a canal and power plant to reality. Several other companies later attempted similar projects without success.
In 1853, the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Company was chartered; in 1861, it completed a 35-foot (11 m) wide and 8-foot (2.4 m) deep canal. The powerhouse finally opened in 1874, but produced little electricity even by the standards of the day.
In 1877, Jacob F. Schoellkopf purchased the canal, along with the water and power rights, for $71,000. He improved the canal and put the powerhouse to commercial use. In 1881, his company completed Schoellkopf Power Station No. 1; it would operate until 1904. In 1891, Schoellkopf Power Station No. 2 opened directly in front of the original, in the gorge below the falls, with a higher 210-foot (64 m) drop. In 1904, the company built Schoellkopf Stations No. 3A and 3B.