New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Oswego River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 3,300 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Oswego County

Oswego County has a population of 118,162. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 24,364 cases in the county.

The county received a grade of B for ozone pollution. No particle pollution grade is available.

Federal monitoring recorded 256 days of good air quality and 8 moderate days in the county over the most recent year, with 0 days rated unhealthy for sensitive groups.

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 Minetto, in Oswego County, ranks #40 of 142 by the electricity it produced in 2024. The plant sits on the Oswego River and began operating in 1915. It uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning river water flowing through turbines spins generators, much like a waterwheel turning a shaft.

In 2024 it produced 32.6 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a very large unit of electricity, which is about 3,300 homes’ worth of power for a year. Its five generators have a combined capacity of 10.0 MW, a megawatt being the most power the plant can deliver at one moment. Erie Boulevard Hydropower LP owns it.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 13,000 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 2,700 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Minetto sits close to the city of Oswego, home to SUNY Oswego and set on the shore of Lake Ontario, where Fort Ontario overlooks the harbor. Selkirk Shores State Park and the Salmon River, a favorite of anglers and campers, are also within reach.

Local school district

Oswego 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.