POWERGRAMS

The dam, on the Coosa River between Gadsden and Anniston, draws fishermen eager to fill their coolers with striped and largemouth bass, bluegills, catfish and crappies. It attracts boaters drawn to the beautiful scenery and family- friendly amenities surrounding Neely Henry Lake. But this shouldn't obscure its true purpose: to power the state and improve its standard of living. "Neely Henry and the hydros have been very reliable and very cost- effective for the power company," Superintendent Martin Windham said. Neely Henry's three units generate up to 24,300 kilowatts apiece. They're powered by the original 33,000-horsepower hydraulic turbines, each weighing 98,000 pounds and measuring 21 feet 4 inches wide. Each unit can discharge more than 4 million gallons a minute. While hydroelectric makes up only about 6 percent of the Alabama Power energy mix — slightly more in rainy seasons — it has an outsized importance to the state. "Hydro plants are capable of starting up during a crisis, without any outside assistance," said Windham. "Our backup battery system allows us to get a unit back online in case of emergency or a power outage." Neely Henry is also critical to some local economic powerhouses. "We have an emergency line to the Honda plant in Lincoln, and we also have a straight line to Gulf States Steel Inc.," said Windham. "I'm not sure any other single event has had a more profound effect on economic development in Etowah County," said Glen Porter, publisher of The Gadsden Times. "Alabama Power's decision to build the dam has probably meant hundreds of millions of dollars a year to our area for more than five decades." Construction on the dam began in August 1962. The first unit went online June 2, 1966. It was dedicated and named after an Alabama Power senior executive vice president. The dam was one of six built by Alabama Power in a busy period from 1957-1968. During this time, the company's oldest structure, Lay Dam (1914), also on the Coosa River, was refurbished. The region had a long association with Alabama Power even before the dam was built. The company's first steam plant was Plant Gadsden, which began operating in 1913. But Neely Henry Dam changed the face and the future of the area. "The two largest areas of impact have been recreation and flood control," said Heather Brothers New, president of the Chamber Gadsden Etowah County. "It made it possible for communities like Southside, Rainbow City and Glencoe to Windham Left, visitors entrance to powerhouse; right, fisherman trolling for a catch. H. NEELY HENRY DAM AND RESERVOIR FACTS: Type: gravity concrete and earth fill Length of concrete: 605 feet Maximum height: 104 feet Spillway gates: Six Capacity: 7,630,000 gallons per minute each Lake elevation above sea level: 508 feet Area: 11,200 acres Shoreline: 339 miles Length: 77.6 miles Maximum depth at dam: 53 feet Area of watershed draining into reservoir: 6,600 square miles 49

• Cover