New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Saranac River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 1,200 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

Among New York’s 142 hydropower plants in this category, Union Falls ranks #89 by the electricity it produced in 2024. It sits on the Saranac River near Au Sable Forks and has been running since 1987. Hydropower means the river’s flowing water spins a turbine, a wheel connected to a generator that makes electricity. The plant uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning it simply uses the river’s natural flow, with no fuel burned.

Union Falls has two generators and a capacity of 2.6 MW, which is the most power it can deliver at once. Last year it produced 11.8 gigawatt-hours, a unit of electricity equal to about 1,200 homes.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 4,500 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 4,700 acres of forest in a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Plattsburgh, home to SUNY Plattsburgh, sits on the shore of Lake Champlain and is a natural stop in the area. Point au Roche State Park is close by, and the northern Adirondacks surround the region with forests, rivers, and mountain scenery.

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.