National Hydropower Association’s Clean Currents 2025 is coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from October 14 – 17, 2025, and this ‘by the industry, for the industry’ event has a lot to offer the water power industry – information packed sessions covering hydro hot topics, networking opportunities, and exciting tours!

Eagle Creek, host of Clean Currents, is providing 60 attendees with the chance to explore Lake Lynn – a 51.2 MW hydropower project with storage capability – located in Monongahela, West Virginia, on the Cheat River.

The tour costs $65 per person, and attendees will leave for Lake Lynn from the David Lawrence Convention Center – the site of Clean Currents – on October 17, 2025, at 8:00 AM ET, returning back to the pickup spot by 12:00 PM ET.

Tour participants must provide identification information at the time of registration (photo copy of driver’s license for U.S. participants; photo copy of passport for all non-U.S. residents).

Find out more about the tour below!

Lake Lynn Dam and Power Station (Source – Dominion Post)

BACKGROUND

In 1910, the area now known as Cheat Lake was considered an ideal location for a dam and hydropower project, serving “the public good” by providing power and flood control benefits. Yet, the construction of dam was postponed due to World War I, resuming in 1925.

In 1926, the dam at Cheat Lake was completed, earning the name “Lake Lynn” in 1927 to honor West Penn Power Company’s President, Albert M. Lynn, who is attributed with being a driving force behind making both Lake Lynn Dam and Lake Lynn Power Station possible.

Construction of the ‘Cheat Lake’ Dam in 1913.

While not much is known about Albert Lynn, Allegheny Energy – a company formed from the merger between Monongahela Power (West Virginia), West Penn Power (Pennsylvania), and Potomac Edison Power (Maryland) – released a 75-year history of the company, including a note on Albert Lynn:

“President Lynn, whose leadership brought the project to fruition, died at New York, April 8, 1927. In his honor, the lake and power station were named for him at impressive dedication ceremonies, Sept. 14, 1927, at which West Virginia governor Howard M. Gore participated.”

Cheat Lake Dam construction site in 1920.

MODERN HYDRO

For almost 100 years, Lake Lynn – a 51.2 MW dispatchable, peaking hydroelectric facility – complete with storage capability – has provided vital energy to the region.

Equipped with four Francis turbine units connected to four generators, the facility’s ponding capability varies by season and allows for peaking, offering responsive power generation depending on the need.

Lake Lynn produces a long-term average generation of 140,352 MWh of renewable electricity annually, which is enough to power 13,495 homes.

Beyond power generation, Lake Lynn offers a host of recreational opportunities, including Cheat Lake and Cheat Lake Park and Trail – a 20-acre site complete with a 4.5 mile trail and bountiful fishing spots.

Lake Lynn Dam on Cheat Lake.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To register for Clean Currents and the tour of Lake Lynn, click HERE.

For questions about the tour or Clean Currents, contact Ellie Rubalow at ellie@hydro.org.