198th largest plant in Pennsylvania · 6934th nationally
Townsend Hydro is a hydroelectric power plant in Pennsylvania with a nameplate capacity of 5.2 MW. It generates roughly 17.6k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,680 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 39% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Townsend Hydro |
|---|---|
| Operator | Beaver Falls Municipal Auth |
| City | New Brighton |
| County | Beaver County |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| ZIP | 15066 |
| Coordinates | 40.73354, -80.31480 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.6 MW | Operating | 1987 |
| GEN2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.6 MW | Operating | 1987 |
| NERC Region | RFC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Pjm Interconnection, Llc |
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.