20th largest plant in Alabama · 842nd nationally
Wheeler Dam is a hydroelectric power plant in Alabama with a nameplate capacity of 404 MW. It generates roughly 1.1M MWh per year — enough to power about 102,157 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 30% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Wheeler Dam |
|---|---|
| Operator | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| City | Town Creek |
| County | Lawrence County |
| State | Alabama |
| ZIP | 35672 |
| Coordinates | 34.80690, -87.38190 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 43.6 MW | Operating | 1963 |
| 9 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 43.6 MW | Operating | 1962 |
| 10 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 36.0 MW | Operating | 1963 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1936 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1937 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1941 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1941 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1948 |
| 6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1949 |
| 7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1949 |
| 8 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 35.1 MW | Operating | 1950 |
| 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.