New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Black River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 200 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

Kings Falls Hydroelectric sits on the Black River in Copenhagen, Lewis County, and it’s one of 142 hydropower plants in New York’s clean-energy category. It ranks #140 of 142 by 2024 electricity produced, so it’s among the smaller ones. It has run since 1988 with one generator, a machine that turns spinning motion into electricity. The plant is owned by Silverstreet Hydro.

In 2024 it produced 2.0 gigawatt-hours, a unit for measuring large amounts of electricity, which is about 200 homes’ worth. Its capacity is 1.6 MW, a megawatt being the most power a plant can deliver at one moment. It uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning river water flowing through a turbine, so no fuel is burned.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 760 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 160 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Copenhagen sits in Lewis County, where the Black River runs through the area and the Tug Hill Plateau rises nearby. The village of Lowville is a short drive away and is a familiar stop for people exploring the region. Whetstone Gulf State Park offers a deep gorge with trails along its rim.

Local school district

Copenhagen 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.