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| The Yards Creek Generating Station |
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| The Yards Creek Generating Station is a 400 MW pumped-storage hydro plant located five miles northeast of the Delaware Water Gap in Warren County, NJ. PSEG has a 50% ownership with First Energy, who operates the facility.
PSEG began studying pumped storage in 1947 and by 1956 the technology had advanced enough to make this type of project feasible. Yards Creek was completed in 1965.
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Yards Creek has two reservoirs separated in elevation by 700 feet. When electricity demand is low and electricity is inexpensive (mainly nights and weekends), water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. When demand and prices for electricity are high, water is allowed to flow from the upper to lower reservoir. On its way down, the water turns three, generators. The generators are actually reversible pump turbines that act as motors in one direction and generators in the other.
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It takes roughly three units of electricity to pump the water up the hill for every two units generated when the water falls. This inefficiency is made up by timing the system to take advantage of periods of high and low use.
An advantage of pumped storage is that it produces electricity without producing significant air or water emissions.
In addition to generating electricity, Yards Creek provides walking trails with scenic views and birding and wildlife observation opportunities.
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| Key Facts: |
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| Location: |
Blairstown and Pahaquarry, NJ |
| MW: |
400 (200 PSEG) |
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Fuel:
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Hydro
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Technology:
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Pumped Storage
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| Commercial Operation: |
1965
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| Ownership: |
50% PSEG Fossil |
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