Lowman Energy Center
Lowman Energy Center is a natural gas plant in Washington County, Alabama, operated by PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. Of its current capacity, 733 MW came online between 2023 and 2025. A further 438 MW of new generating units is reported as planned or under construction on the site. Retired units here add up to 538 MW across 3 units, taken out of service in 2020.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
733 MW
639 MW net summer capacity
2 operable units
- Gas combined cycle733 MW100%
Unit by unit, 1969 to 2025
operating in 2025retiredbar height follows unit size
Unit 1 Coal steam, 66 MW, 1969–2020
Unit 2 Coal steam, 236 MW, 1978–2020
Unit 3 Coal steam, 236 MW, 1980–2020
Unit LEC1 Gas combined cycle, 459 MW, 2023
Unit LEC2 Gas combined cycle, 274 MW, 2023
Among Alabama’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Browns Ferry3,854 MW
- 2Barry3,344 MW
- 3James H Miller Jr2,822 MW
- 14Hillabee Energy Center823 MW
- 15Calhoun Energy Center748 MW
- 16Lowman Energy Centerthis plant
- 17McIntosh (AL)676 MW
- 18Wilson Dam667 MW
Other rankings
- All US power plants
- 457th of 14,286
- Power plants in Alabama
- 16th of 78
- US natural gas plants
- 262nd of 1,961
- Natural gas plants in Alabama
- 13th of 26
- Plants in the Southern Company balancing area
- 29th of 335
- Plants run by PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
- 1st of 5
- Biggest single unit, among Alabama’s plants
- 6th of 78
Operable units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEC1 | Gas combined cycle | 459 MW | 380 MW | 2023 | Operating |
| LEC2 | Gas combined cycle | 274 MW | 259 MW | 2023 | Operating |
Retired units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | In service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coal steam | 66 MW | 1969–2020 |
| 2 | Coal steam | 236 MW | 1978–2020 |
| 3 | Coal steam | 236 MW | 1980–2020 |
New units reported to EIA
| Technology | Nameplate | Expected | Stage at end of 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas combustion turbine | 438 MW | 2029 | awaiting approvals |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Southern Company
- Reliability region
- SERC Reliability Corporation
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 230 kV
- Water source
- Tombigbee River
- Nearest town on record
- Leroy
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 31.488°N, 87.911°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging Corp. of America Jackson Mill | Natural gas | 44.4 MW | 0.7 mi east |
| Washington County Cogeneration Facility | Natural gas | 122 MW | 16.4 mi south |
| McIntosh (AL) | Natural gas | 676 MW | 17.6 mi southwest |
| Alabama River Pulp | Biomass and waste | 48 MW | 25.7 mi east |
| Alabama Pine Pulp | Biomass and waste | 69 MW | 25.7 mi east |
| Barry | Natural gas | 3,344 MW | 33.8 mi south |
| International Paper Pine Hill Mill | Biomass and waste | 77.4 MW | 41.8 mi northeast |
| East Atmore Solar | Solar | 80 MW | 45.9 mi southeast |