New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Beaver River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 1,000 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Lewis County

Lewis County has a population of 26,548. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 5,612 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 Belfort, in Croghan, ranks #100 of 142 by 2024 electricity produced. It sits on the Beaver River, using flowing water to spin turbines, which are wheel-like machines that turn moving water into rotation. Three generators there have been running since 1903.

Last year it produced 10.1 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a very large amount of electricity, which is about 1,000 homes. Its capacity is 2.0 MW, a megawatt being the most power it can deliver at one moment. It is owned by Erie Boulevard Hydropower LP.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 3,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as taking about 830 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Croghan sits in Lewis County, close to the town of Lowville and the Tug Hill Plateau, with the Black River running through the county. Whetstone Gulf State Park features a deep gorge with rim trails.

Local school district

Beaver River 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.