New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Lachute River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 1,300 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Essex County

Essex County has a population of 36,775. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 8,577 cases in the county.

The county received a grade of C for ozone pollution. For particle pollution — the fine soot and dust that can be breathed deep into the lungs — it received a grade of A.

Federal monitoring recorded 218 days of good air quality and 50 moderate days in the county over the most recent year, with 4 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 Lachute Hydro Lower, in Ticonderoga, ranks #82 of 142 by electricity produced in 2024. It draws on the Lachute River and has been running since 1987, using conventional hydroelectric technology, which means river water spins a turbine to make power.

Its single generator has a capacity of 3.8 MW, the most electricity it can produce at any one moment. Over the year it generated 12.6 gigawatt-hours, a unit for measuring large amounts of electricity, roughly enough for about 1,300 homes. The plant is owned by Central Rivers Power US, LLC.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 4,900 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 1,000 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Essex County is Adirondack country, home to Lake Placid and the Adirondack High Peaks, with Whiteface Mountain near Wilmington. The Lake Champlain shoreline forms the county’s eastern edge, a popular spot for boating and views.

Local school district

Ticonderoga 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.