Safe Harbor Water and Power Corporation

Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation
Company type	Private
Industry	Hydroelectric power generation
Founded	1930
Headquarters	Lancaster County and York County, United States
Area served	Susquehanna River region, Pennsylvania, Maryland
Products	Hydroelectric power
Owner	Brookfield Renewable Inc.

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Safe Harbor Water and Power Corporation, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 2025

The Safe Harbor Dam, also known as the Safe Harbor Hydroelectric Station, is a concrete gravity dam accompanied by a hydroelectric power facility situated on the lower stretch of the Susquehanna River. Constructed from April 1930 to December 1931 as part of electrification initiatives during the Great Depression, it stands as a major regional infrastructure project emphasizing renewable energy development. The dam's creation led to the formation of Lake Clarke, an elongated, shallow reservoir within the upper Conejohela Valley, altering local topography and ecosystems.

This installation houses turbine units specifically designed to supply electricity for Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system and incorporates a frequency converter that facilitates the transition between 25 Hz and the conventional 60 Hz grid frequency, thereby improving operational versatility.

Base terrains

The Conejohela Valley featured a varied landscape consisting of marshlands, rapids, waterfalls, wetlands, and dense forests along both banks of the river within a floodplain subject to frequent flooding that extended into the headwaters of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. This complex environment supported diverse ecological habitats but presented significant obstacles for transportation and development during colonial times. Such conditions influenced early infrastructure projects like Wright's Ferry and the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridges—important historic crossings that enabled east-west passage over the Susquehanna River.

Siting

Positioned just upstream from where the Conestoga River merges with the Susquehanna, roughly downstream from Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, near the midpoint of Lake Clarke formed by the dam, this site has become popular for recreational activities such as water sports and fishing. The submerged islands with varying depths foster diverse habitats that support freshwater feeder fish, panfish, and large predatory game fish species, effectively substituting lost avian and small mammal habitats with freshwater lacustrine ecosystems.

Operating company

In 2011, LS Power Group purchased PPL’s stake in the facility before being acquired by Brookfield Renewable Inc. in March 2014. By May of that year, Brookfield completed full ownership by acquiring Exelon’s share. The Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation manages both the dam and its power generation operations, representing a strategic consolidation within the hydroelectric sector.

Planning and construction

Initial planning commenced in 1929 with construction beginning on April 1, 1930. The dam’s gates were closed on September 29, 1931, and it produced its inaugural electricity on December 7, 1931. The original seven turbine generators reached full operation by October 14, 1940. Expansion efforts started in 1981; construction began on April 12, 1982, adding five additional turbine generators that became operational between April 1985 and April 1986.

Units 1 and 2 employ Kaplan turbines linked to single-phase generators dedicated to Amtrak’s 25 Hz traction power system. Approximately two-thirds of this generated power is transmitted to Amtrak’s Perryville substation in Maryland through four circuits; the balance supplies substations located in Royalton and Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. A motor-generator frequency converter is integrated into the facility to enable switching between 25 Hz and 60 Hz as operational demands require.

The remaining twelve units produce standard three-phase power at 60 Hz. Safe Harbor boasts an overall hydroelectric capacity of 417.5 megawatts. Electricity output is dispatched via the PJM Interconnection, a key regional transmission organization serving multiple interconnected U.S. power grids.

Key events

On May 18, 2001, President George W. Bush visited the Safe Harbor Hydroelectric facility to emphasize his National Energy Policy. The plant was presented as an exemplary case of partnership among government agencies, private companies, and environmental groups in the field of energy production.

In the same year, Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation was honored with the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in recognition of its efforts to remove more than 11,000 tons of debris from the river and successfully recycle nearly all of the collected material.

External links