New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 870 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

New York has 567 solar plants in this category, and DOCCS Eastern in Wawarsing, Ulster County, ranks #38 of 567 by 2024 electricity produced. It began operating in 2021 and uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity.

In 2024 it generated 8.7 gigawatt-hours, a unit for measuring large amounts of electricity, which is about 870 homes’ worth of power for a year. Its capacity, the most it can produce at any one moment, is 5.0 MW, and the electricity flows into the Central Hudson system. Like all solar, it makes power from sunlight without burning fuel.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 3,400 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 720 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Wawarsing sits in Ulster County, close to the Shawangunk Mountains, where Minnewaska State Park and the Mohonk Preserve are popular for hiking. New Paltz, home to SUNY New Paltz, is a short drive away. Kingston’s waterfront and the town of Woodstock are well-known landmarks elsewhere in the county.

Local school district

Ellenville 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.