New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Moose River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 1,100 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

Lyonsdale Associates is one of 142 hydropower plants in New York, and it ranks #92 of 142 by electricity produced in 2024. It sits on the Moose River in Lyons Falls, and it began operating in 1984. Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC owns it, and the power flows onto the grid serving National Grid customers.

The plant is a conventional hydroelectric station, meaning river water spins turbines to make electricity without burning anything. Two generators give it a capacity of 3.0 MW, which is the most power it can produce at one moment. In 2024 it made 11.0 gigawatt-hours, a unit of energy that here equals about 1,100 homes’ yearly use.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 4,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with producing the same electricity from the national mix of power sources — about the same as taking about 910 cars off the road for a year.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Lewis County sits at the edge of the Tug Hill Plateau, with the Black River running through it. Lowville is a well-known town in the area, and Whetstone Gulf State Park offers a deep gorge with rim trails for walking.

Local school district

South Lewis 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.