Alabama Power Company: Artificial Reef Project

Alabama Power Company: Artificial Reef Project

PEP extends special recognition to Cooper/T.Smith for their critical assistance with this project.

Alabama Power’s Theodore and Washington County Cogeneration plants repurposed two 200,000-pound metal package boilers to create artificial reefs. The idea came from plant employees, who reached out to their corporate environmental affairs team with the idea. After researching regulatory and environmental requirements, the Alabama Power environmental affairs team agreed that it was a great idea and helped the plants secure partnerships with the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Cooper/T. Smith, and the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

“This was a joint effort,” said Dewayne Hammond, operations and maintenance manager with Alabama Power. “The project took a lot of coordination and cooperation between different entities.”

Repurposing the boilers saved Alabama Power dismantling costs and created one of the largest artificial reefs along the Alabama coast. While it will take a few years to fully establish, in time the new reef will offer a great new fishing and diving environment for the community and industry alike.