Briefing on Carver Falls

Carver Falls, a 2 MW conventional hydroelectric plant operating since 1922, has experienced a drastic 95% reduction in generation over the past six months, indicating potential operational challenges despite its long-term history.

Overview

• Carver Falls is a 2 MW conventional hydroelectric plant located in New York.

• It has been operating since 1922 and is currently operational.

• The plant is owned and operated by Green Mountain Power Corp., though parent company is listed as small shareholder(s).

• It is interconnected with ISO New England and NPCC.

Fleet Details

• The plant consists of 2 generators utilizing Conventional Hydroelectric technology.

• Its recent annual generation was 6 GWh, with a capacity factor of 34.8%.

• Recent generation data shows 0 GWh for October, November, and December 2024, indicating a 95% decrease in generation over the past 6 months compared to the prior 6 months.

• Similar plants include Rock Creek II, Wanship, and Great Falls (VT).

Financial Profile

• The capital expenditure (CapEx) for Carver Falls is estimated at $2294/kW, sourced from EIA aggregated cost data.

Carver Falls is a long-standing conventional hydroelectric facility with a recent significant decline in generation, despite its operational status. The low recent output suggests potential operational issues or curtailment, which warrants further investigation into its current financial viability and future strategic role for Green Mountain Power Corp.