New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 350 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Ulster County

Ulster County has a population of 182,333. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 39,586 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

Bluestone is one of 567 solar plants in New York, and it ranks #297 of 567 by how much electricity it produced in 2024. It sits at 92 Hallihan Hill Road in Kingston, in Ulster County, and has been operating since 2019. It uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity.

Last year it generated 3.5 gigawatt-hours (a gigawatt-hour is a large unit for measuring electricity over time), enough to power about 350 homes. Its capacity is 2.0 MW (a megawatt is the most electricity it can deliver at one moment), served through Central Hudson. As a carbon-free source, it makes power from sunlight alone, without burning fuel.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 1,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as taking about 290 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Kingston’s waterfront and the town of Woodstock are well-known landmarks in Ulster County. A bit further south, New Paltz is home to SUNY New Paltz and sits near the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park in the Shawangunk Mountains.

Local school district

Kingston 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.