Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station

Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station
Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station
Location	Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Status	Operational
Construction began	1959
Opening date	1963
Owner(s)	Duke Energy
Operator(s)	Duke Energy
Dam and spillways
Height (foundation)	134 ft
Length	8738 ft
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Norman
Total capacity	1,093,600 acre-feet (1,348,900,000 m³)
Surface area	50.80 sq mi (131.6 km2)
Turbines	4 x 81MWFrancis-type
Installed capacity	350.0 MW
Annual generation	154,287.4 MWh

Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station is a hydroelectric power plant and dam located near Huntersville, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles north of Charlotte on Lake Norman. It is the largest conventional hydro station owned by Duke Energy, generating up to 350 MW of power.^[1]

Three units began generating electricity in 1963, with a fourth unit beginning operation in 1967. They supply "peaking power"—extra electricity needed to meet demand when it is needed most—typically hot summer days and cold winter mornings.^[1]

Cowans Ford Dam impounds the Catawba River to create Lake Norman, the largest man-made body of fresh water in North Carolina. The lake provides water to Lincoln County and the communities of Davidson, Mooresville, Charlotte and Huntersville. The lake was named for former Duke Power president Norman Cocke.^[2]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b "Cowans Ford Hydro Station -Duke Energy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
^ "Lake Norman". Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2012-08-12.

35°26′06″N 80°57′30″W / 35.4349°N 80.9584°W / 35.4349; -80.9584

[auto-1] "Cowans Ford Hydro Station -Duke Energy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2012-04-16.

[2] "Lake Norman". Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2012-08-12.

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