New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Beaver River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 3,800 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

Soft Maple is one of 142 hydropower plants in New York, and it ranks #35 of those 142 by electricity produced in 2024. It sits on the Beaver River in Croghan, in Lewis County, and has been running since 1925. Erie Boulevard Hydropower LP owns it.

Hydropower means the plant captures energy from moving water, which spins a turbine, a wheel that turns a generator to make electricity. Soft Maple has 2 generators and a capacity of 16.0 MW, meaning the most power it can send out at one moment, enough for about 3,800 homes. Over the year it produced 38.4 gigawatt-hours, a measure of total electricity made, equal to about 3,800 homes. It makes power without burning fuel.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 15,000 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 3,200 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Lowville is a short drive away, and the Black River runs through the county. The Tug Hill Plateau is a well-known stretch of upland nearby. Whetstone Gulf State Park offers a deep gorge with trails along its rim.

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.