During the tour, Site Manager David Meyerotto provided some insight into how the station actually works. To generate power, water is pumped from the lower Allegheny Reservoir that most people are familiar with 800 feet up to an approximately 2 billion gallon upper storage reservoir, usually at night.

The water is then released, usually during the daytime, through a 114-inch pipe to the power generation station situated below the Kinzua Dam. The water coming into the plant generates more than 300 PSI of pressure.

There, it powers three turbines, two large for output generation and one small used to power pumping to the upper reservoir. The water is then released into the Allegheny River. The two large turbines can generate more than 400 megawatts of electricity.

Despite the physical size of the operation, Meyerotto noted staffing is small, with a single operator working at all times and four members of maintenance personnel.

Seneca Pumped Storage Generating Station Site Manager David Meyerotto speaks about the station’s power transmission process in front of the lines coming from the station.

The levels seen from the ground are only the surface of the operation. An additional three below ground levels are where actual power generation occurs.

Power is generated on a market basis, rather than on a peak usage schedule as it was in the past, according to Meyerotto. However, generation still generally occurs during the day and pumping to the upper reservoir is still usually a nighttime operation.

“Having the plant here in Warren County provides numerous jobs for our area, as well as providing power throughout the region,” Papalia noted. “We look forward to working with them through community partnerships.”

From left, Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry Director of Operations John Papalia, Seneca Pumped Storage Generating Station Plant Administrator Kellie McClement and station Site Manager David Meyerotto in the bay on the ground floor of the station.