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New York power
Generates renewable electricity from the Beaver River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 970 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
Elmer is one of 142 hydropower plants in New York, and it ranks #104 of 142 by the electricity it produced in 2024. Hydropower means a river’s flowing water spins a turbine, which is a wheel that turns a generator to make electricity. This plant sits on the Beaver River in Croghan and has been operating since 1916.
It uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning it works straight from the river’s flow. With 2 generators and a capacity of 2.0 MW (the most power it can make at one moment), it produced 9,721 MWh in 2024. That is 9.7 gigawatt-hours, a measure of electricity over time, enough for about 970 homes.
Environmental impact
Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 3,700 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 3,900,000 pounds of coal.*
Nearby places worth exploring
Croghan sits in Lewis County, close to Lowville and the Tug Hill Plateau, with the Black River running through the county. Whetstone Gulf State Park, a short drive away, features a deep gorge with trails along its rim.
Local school district
Beaver River Central School District
Common questions
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* 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.
