New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 800 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Columbia County

Columbia County has a population of 60,470. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 14,104 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 ELP Claverack Solar, on Fish and Game Road in Claverack, ranks #92 of 567 by 2024 electricity produced. It began operating in 2023 and uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity.

Its capacity is 5.0 MW, a megawatt being the most power the plant can send out at one moment. Over the year it produced 8.0 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a large measure of electricity over time, which is about 800 homes. The plant is carbon-free in operation and connects to National Grid’s local system.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 3,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as keeping about 1,200 tons of waste out of a landfill.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Claverack sits in Columbia County, close to the river city of Hudson, known for its antique shops and galleries. Olana State Historic Site and Taconic State Park are both nearby, and the Berkshires lie just across the state line.

Local school district

Hudson 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.