New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Mongaup River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 2,100 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Sullivan County

Sullivan County has a population of 79,920. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 16,644 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

Of New York’s 142 hydropower plants, the Rio plant in Glen Spey ranks #67 by electricity produced in 2024. It sits on the Mongaup River and has been running since 1927, using conventional hydroelectric technology, which simply means flowing water spins turbines that make electricity. Its two generators can together produce up to 10.8 MW, a measure of its top output at any one moment.

Over 2024 it produced 21.2 gigawatt-hours, a way of counting energy over time, which is about 2,100 homes’ worth of electricity. The plant is owned by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC, and, like all hydropower, it generates power without burning fuel.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 8,200 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 burning about 8,500,000 pounds of coal.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Glen Spey sits in Sullivan County, in the southern Catskills. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the village of Monticello are both nearby, and the Delaware River forms the county’s western edge.

Local school district

Eldred 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.