New York power

Generates renewable electricity from sunlight, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 300 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Schenectady County

Schenectady County has a population of 159,902. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 32,463 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 the 567 solar plants in New York’s renewable and clean category, this one in Pattersonville, Schenectady County, ranks #365 by electricity produced in 2024. It began operating in 2020 and pairs solar photovoltaic panels (panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity) with batteries, which store power for later use.

Its capacity is 5.0 MW, meaning the most electricity it can deliver at one moment. Over 2024 it generated 3.0 gigawatt-hours, a unit for measuring large amounts of electricity over time, which is enough for about 300 homes. Solar makes power without burning fuel, so it is carbon-free while generating. Distributed Solar Development, LLC owns the plant, and National Grid serves the area.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 1,200 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 1,200,000 pounds of coal.*

Nearby places worth exploring

Pattersonville sits in Schenectady County, near the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal corridor. The city of Schenectady is home to Union College and Proctors Theatre, both well-known local landmarks.

Local school district

Schalmont 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.