New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the East Canada Creek, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 5,100 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Herkimer County

Herkimer County has a population of 59,484. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 12,853 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

Beardslee is one of 142 hydropower plants in New York, and it ranks #27 of those 142 by electricity produced in 2024. It sits on East Canada Creek near Little Falls and has been operating since 1924. It uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning flowing water spins a turbine, and the turbine drives a generator that makes electricity.

In 2024, Beardslee produced 51.1 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a very large unit of electricity, which is about 5,100 homes’ worth of yearly use. Its two generators have a combined capacity of 20.0 MW, a megawatt being the most power the plant can deliver at one moment. Erie Boulevard Hydropower LP owns the plant.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as keeping about 7,700 tons of waste out of a landfill.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Beardslee is in Herkimer County, in the Mohawk Valley, close to the city of Little Falls. Visitors to the area often know it for the Herkimer Diamond Mines, a popular spot for rockhounding. The southern Adirondacks rise in the northern part of the county.

Local school district

Little Falls 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.