New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Fall Creek, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 230 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Tompkins County

Tompkins County has a population of 103,558. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 20,492 cases in the county.

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

Federal monitoring recorded 218 days of good air quality and 20 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

Out of 142 hydropower plants in New York, Cornell Hydro ranks #139 by electricity produced in 2024, making it one of the smaller ones. It sits on Fall Creek in Ithaca and began operating in 1981, using two generators to turn flowing water into electricity.

Its capacity (the most power it can produce at one moment) is 1.9 MW. Over 2024 it generated 2.3 gigawatt-hours, a unit of energy equal to about 230 homes’ yearly electricity use. It uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning water passing through a turbine spins a generator.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 870 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as not using about 2,100 barrels of oil.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Ithaca sits at the southern end of Cayuga Lake and is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College. Taughannock Falls and Buttermilk Falls state parks are close by, both known for their dramatic gorges.

Local school district

Ithaca 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.