The Pepperell Hydro Power Plant is a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

power plant A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electrical grid. Many pow ...

located in

Pepperell, Massachusetts Pepperell is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,604 at the 2020 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell. History Pepperell was first settled in 1720 as a part of Groton, and was offic ...

on the

Nashua River The Nashua River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed October 3, 2011 is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It i ...

. It also serves as a bridge for

Massachusetts Route 113 Route 113 is a east–west Massachusetts state route that connects towns in the Merrimack River valley in northeastern Massachusetts. Its western terminus is at Route 119 in Pepperell, and its eastern end is at U.S. Route 1 (US 1) and Route ...

History

The power plant was constructed in 1918 by the Pepperell Paper Company as a means to power their nearby paper mill. It was originally constructed with three vertical

Francis turbine The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today, and can achieve over 95% efficiency. The proces ...

s and a 600 foot long

penstock A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydro turbines and sewerage systems. The term is inherited from the earlier technology of mill ponds and watermills. H ...

all of which have since been replaced. After the paper company closed in 2002, the Swift River Hydro Operations Company was formed to manage and maintain the dam.

References

Hydroelectric power plants in Massachusetts Energy infrastructure completed in 1918 Buildings and structures in Middlesex County, Massachusetts {{US-powerstation-stub