Northeast

NORTHEASTERN U.S. HYDRO GENERATION PROFILE, 2013

State Conventional Hydro MWh Total MWh Total Renewables MWh Hydro as a % of total Hydro as a % of renewable Powered & Non-powered Dams
Connecticut 409,041 35,443,880 1,079,040 1.15% 37.91% 726
Maine 4,044,597 14,078,880 8,553,600 28.73% 47.29% 647
Massachusetts 1,145,372 33,773,340 3,144,370 3.39% 36.43% 1,602
New Hampshire 1,453,050 19,783,730 3,114,050 7.34% 46.66% 653
New Jersey 0 64,847,850 1,549,000 0% 0% 504
New York 25,148,473 135,337,400 31,006,470 18.58% 81.11% 1,982
Pennsylvania 2,622,107 227,682,900 8,336,110 1.15% 31.45% 1,546
Rhode Island 0 6,294,929 100,000 0% 0% 215
Vermont 1,357,030 6,921,298 2,066,030 19.61% 65.68% 367

Sources: USACE NID, EIA

Hydropower in the Northeast

Hydropower transformed New England into a center of industry by the mid 19th century, with mill towns across the region churning out essential products during a pivotal point in our nation’s history. Now, as we look to strengthen the American economy, developers are turning to these hydropower resources in the Northeast once more as a plentiful, low-cost energy source.

Hydroelectric power accounted for more than 61 percent of total renewable generation across the region’s nine states last year. The area not only hosts significant hydro resources in states such as Maine and Vermont, but it is also home to some of the country’s leading manufacturers and engineering firms.

Project highlight: PPL and SteelFab

In Pennsylvania, utility PPL more than doubled capacity at its 108 MW facility at the century-old Holtwood Dam along the Susquehanna River. The project was actually cancelled in 2008 – another victim of the recession – but stimulus funding resurrected the Holtwood expansion project. The stimulus bill extended the availability of a program that allows qualifying facilities to exchange tax credits for federal grants, a key incentive that helped to move the project forward. With that backing, PPL was able to add 125 MW of new hydro power, enough renewable generation to power 100,000 homes.

 

Other parts of the hydropower supply chain are also a source of economic vitality in the region. Harking back to New England’s industrial roots, Fitchburg, Massachusetts –based Steel-Fab builds water control gates – devices that can maintain water flow and levels for hydroelectric plants and flood control dams. The company builds gates that suit varying dam designs, as well as custom gates.

An American-owned manufacturing company, Steel-Fab is helping to grow the hydropower industry here at home.