New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Saranac River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 2,400 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 142 hydropower plants in this category, and Cadyville, on the Saranac River in the Town of Schuyler Falls, ranks #58 of 142 by 2024 electricity produced. It has run since 1921, using three generators that turn river flow into power. Its capacity, the most it can produce at one moment, is 5.5 MW.

In 2024 it generated 23.8 gigawatt-hours, a unit of energy equal to a million kilowatt-hours, which is about 2,400 homes’ worth of electricity. It is conventional hydroelectric, meaning it uses flowing water without burning anything, and it is owned by New York State Elec & Gas Corp (NYSEG).

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 9,200 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 23,000 barrels of oil.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Cadyville sits in Clinton County, not far from Plattsburgh, home to SUNY Plattsburgh and set along the shore of Lake Champlain. Point au Roche State Park is close by, and the northern Adirondacks are within easy reach for hiking and quiet scenery.

Local school district

Saranac 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.