POWERGRAMS

Employees at Washington County Cogen Facility recently celebrated 25 years of successful power generation. The cogeneration unit began commercial operation in February 1999 with Olin Corp., a global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products. Washington Cogen Assistant Plant Manager Matt Hornsby is proud of the team's achievements over a quarter century. Operations and Maintenance Manager Danny Bolerjack kept a list of every plant employee, and the group was invited to the silver anniversary celebration. "We just wanted to recognize the great work that has been accomplished over the last 25 years," Hornsby said. A cogeneration plant gets its name from the way it operates: Washington County Cogen not only generates energy; the steam it produces is repurposed for Olin to use in manufacturing its products. The relationship between Washington County Cogen and Olin started in the '90s, and the two have been "joined at the hip" ever since. The two operations teams speak almost daily and have regular planning meetings. Indeed, visitors to Washington County Cogen drive onto Olin's property to get to the facility. The plant has 22 employees but the party drew more than 60 guests with ties to the facility. "To have 65 or 70 … attend the celebration shows the family atmosphere we have," Hornsby said. With such a small team operating the facility, he noted, "everyone knows everyone. We have a well-rounded group that when asked to do something, they will get it done." From the original team, three employees are still working: Journeymen Jim Eubanks and John Alexander and Team Leader Freddie McLain. And Site Manager Jason Grimes, an Olin employee who started at Washington County, recently returned. "These guys have been here the entire time and have seen the work being done for so long. They helped set the culture 25 years ago that can still be seen today," Hornsby said. Washington County Cogen is one part of the company's diverse mix of generating plants and fuel sources. Alabama Power owns or operates nearly 81 electric generating units and 26 facilities, with a total peak capacity of more than 14 million kilowatts to power the company's 1.5 million customers. By Greg Ward Washington County Cogeneration Facility celebrates 25 years of excellence 3 tips for managing high power bills Track your energy usage. Our My Power Usage tool lets you track daily energy use and set alerts to avoid unexpected high bills. Visit alabamapower.com/mypowerusage to learn more. Choose the right rate plan. You might save money by switching to a rate plan that better suits your usage patterns. We have a new rate chart at alabamapower.com/rates to help you compare plans. Receive free monthly energy reports. Get a report detailing your home's energy use emailed to you each month. You'll receive insights and tips to reduce your energy consumption and costs. Sign up at ehers. alabamapowerprograms.com. 1 2 3 Did you know Alabamians use 31% more electricity than the national average? With our heat and humidity, it's no surprise that staying cool is a challenge. If you experienced higher bills this season or had conversations with your friends/neighbors about theirs, here are some tips you can use and share to help save energy and money. For more energy-saving tips, visit alabamapower.com/summerbill or scan this QR code. 5 The facility near McIntosh, north of Mobile, has 22 employees.

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