26th largest plant in New Hampshire · 5376th nationally
Garvins Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in New Hampshire with a nameplate capacity of 12.4 MW. It generates roughly 44.2k MWh per year — enough to power about 4,206 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 41% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Garvins Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | Central Rivers Power Nh, Llc |
| City | Bow |
| County | Merrimack County |
| State | New Hampshire |
| ZIP | 03301 |
| Coordinates | 43.16552, -71.50944 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 3.4 MW | Operating | 1981 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 3.4 MW | Operating | 1981 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 3.2 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.4 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 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.