New York power

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

Air quality & health in Clinton County

Clinton County has a population of 78,115. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 16,381 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

Of the 142 hydropower plants in New York, Rainbow Falls Auscble ranks #98 by electricity produced in 2024. It sits on the Ausable River in Clinton County and has been operating since 1926.

It’s a conventional hydroelectric plant, meaning river water spins a turbine connected to a generator. Its single generator has a capacity of 1.3 MW, the most power it can produce at one moment. In 2024 it produced 10.3 gigawatt-hours, enough to power about 1,000 homes. A gigawatt-hour is a way of counting electricity over time. NYSEG owns it.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 4,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as the carbon absorbed by about 4,100 acres of forest in a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Plattsburgh, home to SUNY Plattsburgh, sits on the shore of Lake Champlain, a short drive from Auscble. Point au Roche State Park is nearby too, and the northern Adirondacks make a scenic backdrop for visitors.

Local school district

AuSable Valley 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.