New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 210 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has a population of 49,368. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 10,138 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

Broadalbin-Perth Solar is one of 567 solar plants in New York, and it ranks #467 of 567 by the electricity it produced in 2024. Located on County Highway 107 in Amsterdam, it uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity with no fuel burned. It began operating in 2018 and is owned by AES Distributed Energy.

The plant has a capacity of 1.5 MW, a megawatt being a measure of the most power it can deliver at one moment. In 2024 it generated 2.1 gigawatt-hours, a unit for large amounts of electricity over time, which is about 210 homes’ worth. The power flows to the local grid served by National Grid.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 800 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as not using about 2,000 barrels of oil.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Amsterdam sits in the Mohawk River valley, where the Erie Canal’s locks and towpath trails follow the water through the region. It’s a pleasant area for a walk or bike ride along the river corridor.

Local school district

Broadalbin-Perth 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.