# Robert Moses Niagara NYISO hydroelectric_power_plant · https://askthegrid.com/nyiso/assets/plant/robert-moses-niagara Robert Moses Niagara is a conventional hydroelectric generating facility owned and operated by the New York Power Authority on the Niagara River in Niagara County, New York, approximately 4.5 miles downstream from Niagara Falls. The plant comprises 13 turbine-generator units with a total capacity of 2,429.1 MW and generated an average of 14,178,134.7 MWh annually. The facility is one of two generating assets in the Niagara Power Project, alongside the Lewiston Pump Generating Plant. Water diverted through a gated tunnel and conduits from the Niagara River flows through reservoirs and into the Robert Moses plant, where 13 Francis turbine-generator units convert the flow into electricity. The plant operates as a bulk-system resource and plays an important role in managing Western New York transmission constraints. The facility has been continuously generating since 1961 and is undergoing modernization of mechanical, control, and electrical systems through the Next Generation Niagara program. ## Key facts - Technology: Conventional Hydroelectric - Power capacity: 2429.1000000000004 MW ## Grid and market context - ISO/RTO: NYISO - Balancing authority: NYISO ## Source-backed facts - Identity.canonical name: Robert Moses Niagara — mbrweb.ferc.gov · confidence: review_required - Identity.identifiers.eia plant id: 2693 — mbrweb.ferc.gov · confidence: review_required - Identity.identifiers.ferc project number: P-2216 — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required - Technical.power mw: 2429.1 MW — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required - Technical.unit count: 13 — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required - Technical.commercial operation date: 1961 — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required - Technical.energy mwh: 14178134.7 MWh — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required - Operations.market resource ids.0: 23760 — nyiso.com · confidence: review_required - Operations.balancing authority: NYISO — nyiso.com · confidence: review_required ## Timeline - 1956 — Schoellkopf Power Station destroyed by rockslide Niagara Mohawk's Schoellkopf hydroelectric station collapsed in a rockslide, creating a severe power shortage on the Niagara Frontier and prompting redevelopment of Niagara Falls hydroelectric resources. Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/About) - 1958-03 — Niagara project construction began Construction of the Niagara project began under NYPA Chairman Robert Moses. Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation was the excavation contractor working on the access haul road and plant-site excavation; the contemporaneous estimated cost for major construction phases was $625 million. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2011/02/12/101693/new-york-power-authority-marks-50th-anniversary-of-niagara-power-project) - 1961-01-28 — Robert Moses Niagara first power generation The Niagara project produced electricity for the first time, ahead of the February 10 ceremonial startup. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2011/02/12/101693/new-york-power-authority-marks-50th-anniversary-of-niagara-power-project) - 1961-02-10 — Ceremonial operating startup NYPA held the ceremony marking the start of operations, including the symbolic switching on of power by New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2011/02/12/101693/new-york-power-authority-marks-50th-anniversary-of-niagara-power-project) - 1962-10-11 — Full operation declared The Niagara Power Project was declared fully operational. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2011/02/12/101693/new-york-power-authority-marks-50th-anniversary-of-niagara-power-project) - 2007-09-01 — 50-year federal operating license effective A new 50-year federal license for the Niagara Power Project took effect after issuance on March 15, 2007, supporting continued operation through approximately September 1, 2057. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2011/02/12/101693/new-york-power-authority-marks-50th-anniversary-of-niagara-power-project) - 2019-07 — Next Generation Niagara program launched NYPA launched the 15-year Next Generation Niagara modernization and digitization program, focused primarily on the 13 Robert Moses generating units and intended to extend operating life. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2021/07/21/147379/new-york-power-authority-approves-15-year-construction-services-contract-to-modernize-niagara-power-project) - 2019-12 — Control-room EPC contract awarded Engineering, procurement, and construction for the Niagara control-room upgrade, serving both the Robert Moses and Lewiston facilities, was awarded to Burns & McDonnell. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2023/03/07/154489/new-york-power-authority-upgrades-niagara-power-project-control-room-as-part-of-1.1-billion-15-year-next-generation-niagara-upgrade) - 2021-05 — Voith mechanical and electrical modernization contract NYPA awarded Voith Hydro a competitively bid contract for mechanical and electrical upgrades, including headcovers, servomotors, generator rotors, runners, and other turbine components. The contract value was up to $275 million. The first turbine outage was scheduled for April 2023. Source: wnypapers.com (https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2021/07/21/147379/new-york-power-authority-approves-15-year-construction-services-contract-to-modernize-niagara-power-project) - 2026-04-02 — ANDRITZ stator replacement contract NYPA awarded ANDRITZ a contract to design, manufacture, and supply five new 215 MVA generator stators to replace stators in several of the existing 13 units. The work is part of the Next Generation Niagara program and is expected to span approximately 10 years. Source: andritz.com (https://www.andritz.com/newsroom-en/hydro/2026-04-02-robert-moses-group) ## Sources - [hydroreform.org](https://hydroreform.org/hydro-project/robert-moses-niagara-p-2216) — hydroreform.org · tier public_source - [mbrweb.ferc.gov](https://mbrweb.ferc.gov/SearchlkpEIA/Index?page=685) — mbrweb.ferc.gov · tier authoritative - [andritz.com](https://www.andritz.com/newsroom-en/hydro/2026-04-02-robert-moses-group) — andritz.com · tier public_source - [nyiso.com](https://www.nyiso.com/documents/20142/2226333/2025-Gold-Book-Public.pdf) — nyiso.com · tier authoritative - [nypa.gov](https://www.nypa.gov/About) — nypa.gov · tier authoritative - [nypa.gov](https://www.nypa.gov/power/generation/niagara-power-project) — nypa.gov · tier authoritative - [voith.com](https://www.voith.com/corp-en/Hypower_9.pdf) — voith.com · tier public_source - [wnypapers.com](https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2011/02/12/101693/new-york-power-authority-marks-50th-anniversary-of-niagara-power-project) — wnypapers.com · tier public_source - [wnypapers.com](https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2023/03/07/154489/new-york-power-authority-upgrades-niagara-power-project-control-room-as-part-of-1.1-billion-15-year-next-generation-niagara-upgrade) — wnypapers.com · tier public_source - [wnypapers.com](https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2021/07/21/147379/new-york-power-authority-approves-15-year-construction-services-contract-to-modernize-niagara-power-project) — wnypapers.com · tier public_source ## Data quality - The documented predecessor asset is Niagara Mohawk's Schoellkopf Power Station, which collapsed in 1956; the evidence supports redevelopment and replacement context, not a sale or transfer of Robert Moses Niagara itself. No documented acquisition, sale, portfolio transaction, retirement, or discrete expansion transaction for Robert Moses Niagara was identified. NYPA is consistently identified as the owner, operator, licensee, and project sponsor since 1957. The original construction estimate of $625 million (1958) is distinct from modernization figures: $1.1 billion for the 15-year Next Generation Niagara program and up to $275 million for the Voith contract are construction and equipment values, not project financing or transaction considerations. Modernization is continuing rather than representing retirement or repowering: Next Generation Niagara replaces or refurbishes aging mechanical, control, and generator equipment to extend service life. ANDRITZ's 2026 award covers five replacement 215 MVA stators, not new generating capacity. Equipment supplier history spans from the original facility (1958–1962) through historical rehabilitation work (Voith Siemens Hydro, 1992–2010) to current modernization (Voith Hydro, Burns & McDonnell, ANDRITZ, 2019–present). The facility operates at multiple voltage levels (230 kV and 115 kV) with three distinct injection points onto the bulk power system. NYISO models the plant output at 2,100 MW in its Summer 2026 operating study; the difference from nameplate reflects operational constraints and modeling assumptions. Robert Moses Niagara is identified as a 13-unit conventional hydroelectric facility distinct from the adjacent 240-MW Lewiston Pump Generating Plant, with which it shares infrastructure and licensing under FERC Project P-2216 as part of the Niagara Power Project. - Open question: [object Object] --- Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/nyiso/assets/plant/robert-moses-niagara Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/