New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 180 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Ontario County

Ontario County has a population of 112,494. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 24,522 cases in the county.

No ozone or particle pollution grades are available for this county in the most recent report. The figures above describe how many residents live with conditions sensitive to air quality — not measured pollution levels.

Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to certain health conditions, particularly for children and older adults. Where electricity comes from affects how much combustion pollution is produced on the grid.

These figures describe the county as a whole and are not specific to this facility. Sources: American Lung Association – State of the Air (New York); U.S. EPA Air Quality Index.

The story behind this New York renewable energy facility

New York has 567 solar plants in this category, and the Canandaigua Westbrook Solar Array, at 2970 County Road 10 in Ontario County, ranks #483 of 567 by 2024 electricity produced. It began operating in 2017 and is owned by AEP Onsite Partners, LLC.

The array uses solar photovoltaic technology, which means panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity. Its capacity is 1.3 MW, a megawatt being a measure of the most power it can deliver at one moment. Over 2024 it produced 1.8 gigawatt-hours, a unit of energy equal to about 180 homes’ electricity for a year. It operates in NYSEG territory and is a single-generator site.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 710 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as the carbon absorbed by about 730 acres of forest in a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Canandaigua sits at the north end of its namesake lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes, a popular spot for boating and lakeside strolls. Nearby, the lakeside city of Geneva is home to Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Bristol Mountain ski resort is a short drive away.

Local school district

Canandaigua City School District

Common questions

* Homes-powered and emissions comparisons are annual estimates based on national averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Homes powered” describes a quantity of electricity, not direct service to specific households. How we calculate this.