New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 360 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

Drinkwater Solar in Saint Johnsville is one of 567 solar plants in New York, and it ranks #276 of 567 by 2024 electricity produced. It uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity. It began operating in 2021 and is owned by Generate Capital.

Its capacity is 2.0 MW, a megawatt being a measure of the most power a plant can deliver at one moment. Over 2024 it produced 3.6 gigawatt-hours, a unit of energy equal to the yearly electricity use of about 360 homes. The plant feeds the National Grid network, and its power is carbon-free.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 1,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as not burning about 1,500,000 pounds of coal.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Saint Johnsville sits in Montgomery County along the Mohawk River valley. Nearby Amsterdam and the river corridor are where the Erie Canal’s locks and towpath trails follow the valley.

Local school district

Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville 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.