New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Salmon (North) River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 2,700 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Franklin County

Franklin County has a population of 46,502. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 9,800 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

Chasm is one of New York’s 142 hydropower plants in this category, and it ranks #51 of 142 by the electricity it produced in 2024. It sits in Malone, in Franklin County, and draws its power from the Salmon (North) River. Hydropower means the plant uses flowing river water to spin turbines, which in turn run generators. Chasm began operating in 1913.

In 2024, it produced 27.4 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a very large unit of electricity, which is enough to power about 2,700 homes. Its capacity is 3.0 MW, a megawatt being a measure of the most power a plant can deliver at one moment. Erie Boulevard Hydropower LP owns it, and National Grid is the local utility.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 11,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as taking about 2,300 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Malone sits in the northern part of the Adirondack region, with Titus Mountain ski area close by in the north of Franklin County. A bit further south, Saranac Lake and the lake country of the northern Adirondacks are a popular draw for paddling, hiking, and quiet weekends.

Local school district

Malone 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.