254th largest plant in Massachusetts · 8803rd nationally
Gardners Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in Massachusetts with a nameplate capacity of 3.5 MW. It generates roughly 17.7k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,686 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 58% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Gardners Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | Central Rivers Power Ma, Llc |
| City | Buckland |
| County | Franklin County |
| State | Massachusetts |
| ZIP | 01370 |
| Coordinates | 42.59140, -72.73080 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GF5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.3 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| GF3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.9 MW | Operating | 1914 |
| GF4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.9 MW | Operating | 1914 |
| GF2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.4 MW | Operating | 1964 |
| NERC Region | NPCC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Iso New England Inc. |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.