New York power

This facility is kept available as backup capacity rather than run continuously. It reported 25 MWh sent to the grid in 2024.

Air quality & health in Rockland County

Rockland County has a population of 340,807. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 64,981 cases in the county.

The county received a grade of C for ozone pollution. No particle pollution grade is available.

Federal monitoring recorded 226 days of good air quality and 41 moderate days in the county over the most recent year, with 6 days rated unhealthy for sensitive groups.

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 power plant

New York has 46 oil-fired plants in this category, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County, ranks #27 of 46 by 2024 electricity produced. It began operating in 1980 and has 3 generators with a combined capacity of 1.9 MW.

This is a standby plant, meaning it exists to be ready rather than to run often. Its capacity is the most power it could supply at once, like a spare tank held in reserve. It burns mostly distillate fuel oil, a light petroleum fuel much like heating oil, with a smaller share of natural gas. In 2024 it produced 25 MWh, a small amount.

Nearby places worth exploring

Rockland County has plenty to explore close to Suffern. The river village of Nyack and the Palisades along the Hudson make a pleasant outing. Bear Mountain and Harriman state parks spread across the county’s north.

Local school district

Suffern Central 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.