New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 3,400 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Schenectady County

Schenectady County has a population of 159,902. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 32,463 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

Of the 567 solar plants in New York, NY8 – Teichos Pattersonville ranks #8 by the electricity it produced in 2024. It sits on Scotch Church Road in Pattersonville, Schenectady County, and is owned by MN8 Energy LLC. It uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity with no fuel burned.

The plant has a capacity of 20.0 MW, which is the most power it can deliver at one moment; a megawatt is a unit of power, roughly what a small group of homes might draw together. In 2024 it generated 33.7 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a very large amount of energy, enough for about 3,400 homes. Its power flows into the National Grid system.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 13,000 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 32,000 barrels of oil.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Pattersonville is close to Schenectady, home to Union College and Proctors Theatre. The area sits along the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal corridor, a setting that makes for pleasant riverside walks and a mix of small-town and city amenities.

Local school district

Schalmont 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.