New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Beaver River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 400 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

New York has 142 hydropower plants in this category, and the Lower Beaver Falls Project in Lewis County ranks #132 of 142 by 2024 electricity produced. It sits on the Beaver River and began operating in 1979. Its two generators are conventional hydroelectric equipment, meaning river water flowing through turbines spins them to make electricity, with nothing burned along the way.

In 2024 it produced 4.0 gigawatt-hours, a unit of energy equal to a billion watt-hours, which is about 400 homes’ worth of electricity for the year. Its capacity is 1.0 MW, the most power it can deliver at one moment, and it generates carbon-free electricity from moving water. Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC owns it.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 1,600 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 180,000 gallons of gasoline.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Lowville is a short drive away, and the Tug Hill Plateau stretches across this part of Lewis County, with the Black River running through the county. Whetstone Gulf State Park offers a deep gorge with trails along its rim.

Local school district

Beaver River 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.