New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Oak Orchard Creek, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 610 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Orleans County

Orleans County has a population of 39,124. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 8,384 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

Glenwood Hydro is one of 142 hydropower plants in New York, ranking #121 of 142 by the electricity it produced in 2024. It sits on Oak Orchard Creek in Medina and has run since 1950. Conventional hydroelectric means flowing water turns a turbine, which spins a generator to make electricity. It’s a carbon-free source, since nothing is burned.

The plant has 3 generators with a capacity of 1.5 MW, which is the most power it can deliver at any one moment. In 2024 it produced 6.1 gigawatt-hours, a unit for measuring large amounts of electricity, which is enough for about 610 homes. Erie Boulevard Hydropower LP owns it.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 2,300 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 500 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Medina sits along the Erie Canal, and the nearby canal villages, including Albion, are pleasant places for a walk or a stop for lunch. To the north, the Lake Ontario shoreline is home to Lakeside Beach State Park. Both are an easy drive from the plant.

Local school district

Medina 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.