Electricity is generated in a variety of ways in New York State. More than 75% of the electricity generated in New York involves the burning of fossil fuels. Some examples of fossil fuel fired electric generation include oil, natural gas, and coal. Fossil Fuels are an inherently limited energy supply source because it takes literally millions of years for fossils to become a useable petroleum product. Nuclear power also plays a significant role in the portfolio of fuel mixes used to generate electricity in New York State. Nuclear generation accounts for approximately 16% of generation in New York. Nuclear generation creates a significant environmental problem in that any accidents create an environmental disaster and spent fuel is a difficult disposal problem. Together, fossil fuel and nuclear generation account for 91% of New York State’s generation.

   Green Power (or renewable energy) refers to sources of electricity that are naturally replenished by the environment. These renewable resources include hydro, biomass, wind, and solar powered generation facilities.

• Hydroelectricity generation refers to electricity generated by spinning turbines from the water flow from a river or stream.

• Wind generation refers to the generation of electricity from wind currents.

• Biomass refers to the generation of electricity using a fuel from plant or organic manner. Landfill gas is one of the most widely used forms of “fuel” used for renewable electric generation. Land fill in the United States take in millions of tons of garbage in to their sites every day. As the matter decays, it naturally creates methane gas. This is a low BTU gas that is collected and burned as a fuel to generate electricity. This methane gas which is naturally created, if not utilized, escapes into the atmosphere and damages the ozone layer. If it is burned , this problem is avoided and a wasted energy source is properly utilized.