New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 160 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 700 Binnewater, on Binnewater Road in Rosendale, ranks #499 of 567 by 2024 electricity produced. It began operating in 2022 and is owned by Madison Energy Investments LLC, with power delivered through Central Hudson.

The site uses solar photovoltaic technology, meaning panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity with no fuel burned. Its capacity is 1.1 MW, a megawatt being the most power it can send out at one moment. Over the year it produced 1.6 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a large unit of electricity over time, which is about 160 homes’ worth.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 610 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as the carbon absorbed by about 630 acres of forest in a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Rosendale sits in Ulster County, close to New Paltz, home to SUNY New Paltz and a gateway to the Shawangunk Mountains. Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park are favorites for hiking and views. Kingston’s waterfront and the town of Woodstock are also well-known stops in the county.

Local school district

Rondout Valley 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.