New York power

Generates renewable electricity from the Seneca River, supporting New York communities and producing enough electricity for about 980 homes for a year.*

Air quality & health in Seneca County

Seneca County has a population of 32,349. Across five conditions the American Lung Association tracks — childhood asthma, adult asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease — it reports a combined 6,937 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 142 hydropower plants in New York, the Seneca Falls Hydroelectric Project ranks #102 by the electricity it produced in 2024. It sits on the Seneca River and uses conventional hydroelectric technology, meaning river water flowing through turbines spins generators. It began operating in 1917.

The plant has three generators and a capacity of 5.1 MW, a megawatt being the most power it can deliver at one moment. In 2024 it produced 9.8 gigawatt-hours, a gigawatt-hour being a large unit of electricity, which is about 980 homes’ worth of yearly use. C-S Canal Hydro, LLC owns it, and it serves the NYSEG area.

Environmental impact

Produces electricity without burning fuel, which avoids roughly 3,800 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

Seneca Falls is known for the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, and the town sits between Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, two of the Finger Lakes. At the northern edge of Seneca County, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a well-known spot for watching birds and wildlife.

Local school district

Seneca Falls 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.