35th largest plant in Alabama · 2262nd nationally
Guntersville is a hydroelectric power plant in Alabama with a nameplate capacity of 115 MW. It generates roughly 453.4k MWh per year — enough to power about 43,178 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 45% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Guntersville |
|---|---|
| Operator | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| City | Guntersville |
| County | Marshall County |
| State | Alabama |
| ZIP | 35976 |
| Coordinates | 34.42127, -86.39393 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 28.8 MW | Operating | 1939 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 28.8 MW | Operating | 1939 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 28.8 MW | Operating | 1939 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 28.8 MW | Operating | 1952 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Tennessee Valley Authority |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.