POWERGRAMS

12 Gadsden Steam Plant marks end of an era One of Alabama Power's original electric-generating facilities built more than 100 years ago – Gadsden Steam Plant – was retired on Jan. 1. Sitting along the banks of the Coosa River, the red brick, art deco facility is a testament to earlier years, when Plant Gadsden played a crucial role in building Alabama. The original plant was being built when Alabama Power's second president, James Mitchell, secured the company's purchase in 1912. In 1913, it was Plant Gadsden's ability to produce ready electricity – 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) – that cemented the facility's then-record as Alabama's largest electric-generating facility. "The Gadsden Steam Plant was the catalyst that helped spur the economic growth of Alabama in the early 1900s," said Jim Heilbron, Alabama Power's senior production officer. "It's been a steady energy source for us to dependably power our customers ever since. Though it's the end of an era to close its doors, we will continue to find ways to honor the legacy." For Reginald Lusain, a longtime electrical and instrumentation journeyman at Plant Gadsden who retired in April, 2020, it is fitting that he retired the same year as his "favorite plant." Former Plant Gadsden Manager Cassandra Wheeler recalls Lusain as an "amazing, dedicated individual who knew the plant unlike anybody else that I knew." Lusain began his Alabama Power career at Plants Miller and Gaston as a plant helper, 10 years after graduating from Jones Valley High School. After working his way through the ranks to become a licensed electrician, Lusain in 2004 moved to Plant Gadsden when he wanted to work at a smaller facility. "Gadsden is a small plant, and it's almost like working with family," said Lusain, one of three Gadsden electricians during that time. "We did a lot of updating and automation to electrical controls in the control room and worked on controls for field handling and the water plant. "I learned so much and was hands on, and we learned to do our work safely, because that is important while working with electricity and high-voltage equipment," Lusain said, adding, "We took no chances." He was proud that, during his tenure, Plant Gadsden employees' dedication to working "every day, every job, safely" in 2015 earned a prestigious 5-year Target Zero Award. Launching the state's electric era Upon Plant Gadsden's completion more than a century ago, the facility provided the needed reserve HISTORY By Donna Cope

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