18th largest plant in Alabama · 542nd nationally
Wilson Dam is a hydroelectric power plant in Alabama with a nameplate capacity of 667 MW. It generates roughly 2.1M MWh per year — enough to power about 201,508 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 36% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Wilson Dam |
|---|---|
| Operator | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| City | Muscle Shoals |
| County | Lauderdale County |
| State | Alabama |
| ZIP | 35662 |
| Coordinates | 34.79782, -87.62537 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 54.0 MW | Operating | 1961 |
| 20 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 54.0 MW | Operating | 1962 |
| 21 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 54.0 MW | Operating | 1962 |
| 5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 36.0 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 30.9 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 30.9 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 8 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 30.9 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 10 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| 11 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| 12 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| 13 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1943 |
| 15 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1949 |
| 16 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1950 |
| 17 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1950 |
| 9 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 29.2 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| 14 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 25.2 MW | Operating | 1943 |
| 18 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 25.2 MW | Operating | 1950 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 23.0 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 23.0 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 23.0 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 23.0 MW | Operating | 1925 |
| 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.