# Robert Moses Power Dam

NYISO hydroelectric_power_plant · https://askthegrid.com/nyiso/assets/plant/robert-moses-power-dam

The Robert Moses Power Dam is the U.S. generating facility of NYPA's St. Lawrence–Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project at Massena, New York. Operated by the New York Power Authority since 1958, it is part of the jointly developed Moses–Saunders Power Dam on the U.S.–Canadian border. NYPA operates the U.S. half of the 32 turbine-generators, comprising 16 generating units with a total capacity of 912 MW.

## Key facts

- Technology: Conventional Hydroelectric
- Power capacity: 855 MW

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: NYISO
- Balancing authority: NYISO

## Source-backed facts

- Technical.unit count: 16 units — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required
- Technical.power mw: 912 MW — hydroreform.org · confidence: review_required
- Technical.energy mwh: 6650000 MWh — govinfo.gov · confidence: review_required
- Operations.settlement point: 23600 — nyiso.com · confidence: review_required
- Events.lem program cost usd: 281000000 USD — waterpowermagazine.com · confidence: review_required

## Timeline

- 1952 — International permits granted for binational project
  The International Joint Commission granted permits to the New York Power Authority and Ontario Hydro to build a power project spanning the international border.
  Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/About/Timeline)
- 1954 — Construction approvals and commencement
  All approvals were in place by 1954, and NYPA and Ontario Hydro began transforming the site into the jointly developed power facility.
  Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/About/Timeline)
- 1958-07 — First electricity production
  The accelerated construction schedule brought the start of electricity production in July 1958. NYPA describes the Robert Moses Power Dam/St. Lawrence-FDR facility as opening in 1958.
  Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/About/Timeline)
- 1959 — Full-power operation
  The NYPA historical timeline states that delivery of full power occurred one year after electricity production began, two years ahead of the original schedule.
  Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/About/Timeline)
- 2003-10 — Federal relicensing
  On October 22, 2003, FERC voted to issue NYPA a new 50-year license to continue operating the St. Lawrence-FDR project; NYPA's trustees accepted the license.
  Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/Power/Generation/St-Lawrence-FDR-Power-Project/St-Lawrence-Relicensing)
- 2014-12 — Hydropower-sale legislation
  In December 2014, New York legislation allowed proceeds from the sale of a block of up to 20 MW of hydropower to support economic development in St. Lawrence County. This concerns power output sales, not a sale of the Robert Moses Power Dam itself.
  Source: nypa.gov (https://www.nypa.gov/Power/Generation/St-Lawrence-FDR-Power-Project/St-Lawrence-Relicensing)

## Sources

- [hydroreform.org](https://hydroreform.org/hydro-project/robert-moses-st-lawrence-p-2000/) — hydroreform.org · tier public_source
- [govinfo.gov](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2001-11-23/pdf/01-29241.pdf) — govinfo.gov · tier authoritative
- [nyiso.com](https://www.nyiso.com/documents/20142/44546131/St%20Lawrence%20Project%20Enhancement_MIWG_FINAL.pdf) — nyiso.com · tier authoritative
- [nypa.gov](https://www.nypa.gov/About/Timeline) — nypa.gov · tier authoritative
- [nypa.gov](https://www.nypa.gov/Power/Generation/St-Lawrence-FDR-Power-Project) — nypa.gov · tier authoritative
- [nypa.gov](https://www.nypa.gov/Power/Generation/St-Lawrence-FDR-Power-Project/St-Lawrence-Relicensing) — nypa.gov · tier authoritative
- [waterpowermagazine.com](https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/st-lawrence-fdr-life-extension-project-enters-final-stage/) — waterpowermagazine.com · tier public_source

## Data quality

- The exact asset is distinguished from NYPA's separately named Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant: this record concerns the St. Lawrence-FDR facility at Massena, EIA plant 2694, FERC project P-2000, and NYISO fleet code D 23600. The official NYPA materials describe the facility as jointly developed with Ontario Hydro, but do not identify an acquisition of the U.S. facility or a predecessor owner separate from NYPA. No retirement or repowering event was identified. The documented modernization was a Life Extension and Modernization program involving replacement or renovation of original equipment. The 2014 reference to sale of up to 20 MW concerns hydropower output and proceeds for economic development, not a sale of the generating plant. The plant remains in the 2025 NYISO existing-generating-facilities listing with 865 MW summer/810 MW winter capability reported; no unit retirement, mothballing, or deactivation notice was identified.

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Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/nyiso/assets/plant/robert-moses-power-dam

Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/