New York power

Generates renewable electricity from wind, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 16,000 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

New York has 33 wind plants in this category, and Altona, in Clinton County, ranks #21 of 33 by electricity produced in 2024. It began operating in 2009 and is owned by Valcour Operating Services, LLC. It uses onshore wind turbines, which are land-based machines whose spinning blades turn a generator.

Altona can produce 97.5 MW, a measure of its maximum output at any one moment. In 2024 it generated 157.9 gigawatt-hours, a way of counting total electricity over a year, or about 16,000 homes’ worth. Because wind is carbon-free, that electricity came without burning fuel.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 61,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as not burning about 63,000,000 pounds of coal.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Plattsburgh sits on the shore of Lake Champlain and is home to SUNY Plattsburgh. Point au Roche State Park and the northern Adirondacks are close by, offering plenty of room for outdoor visits.

Local school district

Northern Adirondack 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.