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New York power
Generates renewable electricity from the Walkill River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 4,600 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 142 hydropower plants in this category, and Sturgeon, on Coutant Road in Tillson, ranks #31 of 142 by electricity produced in 2024. It runs on the Walkill River, using flowing water to spin generators, which are machines that turn motion into electricity.
The plant began operating in 1924 and uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning river water drops through turbines rather than being pumped uphill and reused. Its three generators have a capacity of 14.4 MW, a megawatt being a measure of how much power a plant can deliver at once. In 2024 it produced 45.7 gigawatt-hours, a unit of electricity over time that equals about 4,600 homes’ yearly use. Central Hudson owns it.
Environmental impact
Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 18,000 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 43,000 barrels of oil.*
Nearby places worth exploring
Tillson sits in Ulster County, close to New Paltz, home to SUNY New Paltz. Nearby, the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park offer trails and views in the Shawangunk Mountains. Kingston’s waterfront and the town of Woodstock are also well-known county landmarks.
Local school district
Kingston City School District
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* 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.
