Seneca Energy — United States of America
Waste power plant in New York, United States of America. Approximate location 42.9281, -76.8408.
WasteNew YorkUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
Seneca Energy is a 17.6 MW waste power plant in New York, United States of America. It is operated by Seneca Energy II. Based on reported annual generation of 103 GWh, it can supply roughly 30k homes. It ranks #4969 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2000, it is around 26 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 25,576 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 6.0k cars driven for a year. In context, the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0054782.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 17.6 MW, Seneca Energy is well above the median waste plant in United States of America (6.6 MW). Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal solid waste to generate electricity and heat, cutting landfill volume while recovering energy from residual waste.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~25,576 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 67%, from 103 GWh of reported generation; the median for 506 waste plants in United States of America that report generation is 62%
- Generation trend
- 141 GWh in 2013 and 103 GWh in 2019 (−27%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 142 GWh; 2019: 103 GWh
- Share of United States of America waste capacity
- 0.2% of 10,154 MW across 551 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 198 of 541 dated waste plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Seneca Energy II.
Local climate & thermal context
This waste plant recovers energy by combusting municipal or industrial waste. It sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 45% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 77/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #164 largest waste power plant of 551 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 551 waste power plants in this dataset, together about 10,154 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Waterloo Hydroelectric Project · Hydro · 1.5 MW · New York
- Seneca Falls Hydroelectric Project · Hydro · 5.1 MW · New York
- Zotos International WPGF · Wind · 3.4 MW · New York
- Strauss CSG · Solar · 2 MW · New York
- Cornell Geneva Solar Farm · Solar · 2 MW · New York
- Hobart & William Smith College Gates Rd. · Solar · 1.9 MW · New York
Location
Coordinates 42.9281, -76.8408 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Seneca Energy?
Seneca Energy is a 17.6 MW waste power plant in New York, United States of America, commissioned in 2000.
How much electricity does Seneca Energy generate?
Seneca Energy generates about 103 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Seneca Energy?
Seneca Energy is operated by Seneca Energy II.
How much CO₂ does Seneca Energy emit?
Seneca Energy has modelled emissions of about 25,576 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).