Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant

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Operating as part of the Niagara Power Project, the Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant functions as a control point for the 1,900 acre reservoir which augments the 375,000 gallons of Niagara River water diverted per second to feed the turbines at the Robert Moses Hydro-electric Power Plant.

During peak demand periods, the Lewiston Plant can operate its pump/turbines in reverse to release the water stored in its reservoir into the 740 million gallon forebay area between the itself and the Robert Moses plant. The pump/turbines become power generators at this point, creating a small amount of auxiliary power and allowing the water stored in the reservoir to be used twice for power production before it is returned to the Niagara River.

During non-peak times (usually at night), the Lewiston Plant will operate its pumps to take water from the forebay up to the plant's reservoir where it is stored for the next period of high demand. Plant capacity is 240MW.

This was originally called the Tuscarora Pump-Generating Plant because the reservoir covers part of what was the Tuscarora Reservation, which still exists just to the east of the reservoir.

www.nypa.gov/facilities/niagara.htm