27th largest plant in Alabama · 1695th nationally
Lay Dam is a hydroelectric power plant in Alabama with a nameplate capacity of 177 MW. It generates roughly 454.7k MWh per year — enough to power about 43,302 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 29% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Lay Dam |
|---|---|
| Operator | Alabama Power Co |
| City | Clanton |
| County | Chilton County |
| State | Alabama |
| ZIP | 35045 |
| Coordinates | 32.96330, -86.51870 |
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 | 29.5 MW | Operating | 1968 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.5 MW | Operating | 1968 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.5 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.5 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.5 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| 6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.5 MW | Operating | 1967 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Southern Company Services, Inc. - Trans |
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.