We’re preparing for increased demand in the Rochester region by upgrading an old, coal plant to a clean, modern, natural gas facility.  By repurposing an old plant we’ll meet the needs of our customers and the environment.

Growing with Green Power

Due to growth in the Rochester region, we anticipated a need for an additional power plant.  However, we wanted to meet this need with as much sensitivity for the environment as possible. In order to meet supply needs and maintain system reliability in New York State, we are planning to repower the Russell Generating station, a 1950s vintage coal generator located in Rochester. 

In order to make the station environmentally responsible, we are currently completing a transmission upgrade in the  Rochester area that would allow us to shut down Russell for repowering and replace it with an environmentally clean natural gas plant.  This repowering will not only significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but also sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxide (NOx), and mercury emissions.  We expect the rate impacts to be small.  RG&E has the lowest electric rates in New York State, and we want to keep it that way.