Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | Philadelphia Electric Company |
| Headquarters | Drumore Township, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Eugene C. Whitney (electrical equipment engineer) |
| Products | Hydroelectric power generation (1,071 MW capacity) |
| Parent | Susquehanna Electric Company (subsidiary of Constellation Energy) |
Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility is a hydroelectric pumped-storage plant located in Drumore Township, Pennsylvania, USA. Constructed in 1968 by the Philadelphia Electric Company, it held the distinction of being the world's largest pumped-storage installation at that time, boasting a generation capacity of 1,071 megawatts. Presently, the facility is managed by the Susquehanna Electric Company, which operates as a subsidiary of Constellation Energy.
The upper reservoir, known as Muddy Run Reservoir, spans an area of , maintains a full pool elevation exceeding , and provides a usable storage volume of . This reservoir was created by impounding Muddy Run with a rock-filled dam measuring in length and in height. The lower reservoir utilized is the Conowingo Reservoir on the Susquehanna River, formed by the Conowingo Dam, featuring a typical pool elevation of .
Water is pumped from the Conowingo Reservoir to the upper reservoir during periods of low electricity demand using four vertical shafts, each with a diameter of . During times of peak energy usage, water is released back down these shafts to drive eight turbines functioning as generators.
The electrical equipment for this facility was engineered by Eugene C. Whitney of Westinghouse Electric Company, recognized for his contributions to the Grand Coulee Dam #3 powerhouse. Whitney personally supervised the initial commissioning process, which involved elevating water approximately 400 feet from the Susquehanna River up to the upper reservoir.
Portions of the upper reservoir extend into Martic Township, Pennsylvania. The surrounding land serves as a park area that complements nearby Susquehannock State Park, where visitors can enjoy an overlook trail offering views of the Muddy Run installation.