POWERGRAMS

Contents LINEMAN APPRECIATION DAY Each April, lineworkers and field representatives across the nation are honored for their work and dedication. For some of those linemen, it's also a family affair. Page 1 EDUCATION High school students in Fairfield and other schools statewide are geing upgrades in their classrooms thanks to grants from the Alabama Power Foundation. Page 4 ARTS & ATHLETICS Whether there was a need for a drainage system for a baseball field, or new equipment for a soball team, or new uniforms for a marching band, more than 40 schools were able to purchase special items through Power to Play. Page 6 ENERGIZERS Don Franklin spent most of his working days with Alabama Power, the last 18 years guiding company retirees to beer serve their communities. Franklin is retiring aer 45 years. Page 8 APSO Aer two years when the pandemic forced its cancellation, the Michael Perkins Clay Shoot returned to Perdido as a fundraiser for the Plant Barry Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization. Page 10 COMMUNITY Most Alabamians know Alabama Power for safely producing electricity for 1.5 million customers. But a century ago, APC became known for WSY: Alabama's first public radio station. Page 12 ENERGY EFFICIENCY In 1914, Lay Dam near Clanton became the first major producer of power in Alabama. It continues providing electricity from its six water-turned turbines, even as the dam undergoes upgrades that occur every half-century or so. Page 15 SAFETY When hurricanes head for the Gulf Coast, Alabama Power employees count on the Coastal Weather Research Center at the University of South Alabama. The facility was founded in 1988 and moved to its new headquarters in 2019. Page 18 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Fashion designer Patrick Robinson found himself a long way from the Big Apple when he decided to start a new venture in Gee's Bend. Now Paskho clothing company is employing workers in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt. Page 20 RELIABILITY A new substation, upgrades to substations and transformers, as well as the addition of smart technologies, has strengthened the resiliency of power delivered to downtown Selma. Page 22 ENERGY EFFICIENCY Eufaula's Community Center natatorium was called "the rain forest" by Parks and Recreation employees before Alabama Power Southeast Division employees stepped in to help. The pool is being renovated through a partnership with Sparkfund. Page 23 ENVIRONMENTAL Alabama Power has about 350 wells used to collect water-level measurements. When an ink pen fell nearly 300 feet to the boom of one, an employee devised a way to pull it out of the well. Page 24 RETIREES Page 26 IN MEMORIAM Page 28 THUMBS UP! Page 29 APRIL-JUNE 2022 EDITOR Chuck Chandler 205-257-3651 cchandle@southernco.com ART DIRECTOR Jay Parker CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Phil Free W R I T E R S Bob Blalock Thatcher Chapman Donna Cope Carla Davis Mitchell Kilpatrick Michael Sznajderman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dan Anderson Bob Blalock Billy Brown Amanda Loin Meg McKinney Jay Parker Chuck St. John Michael Sznajderman ON THE COVER The giant generating units and powerhouse still sparkle aer more than a century in operation inside Lay Dam, the first major supplier of clean energy in Alabama. Still, updates are underway. See page 15. Original photo by Meg McKinney. POWERGRAMS © Alabama Power Company 2022

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