Billingsley, Alabama

This modern combined-cycle, natural gas-fueled facility began operation in May 2003.  It is Tenaska’s second facility in Autauga County near Billingsley, Ala., northwest of Montgomery.

Tenaska, the developer, formed Tenaska Alabama II Partners, L.P., to build and own the facility, which is managed and operated by Tenaska affiliates.  Tenaska Alabama II Partners, L.P., the plant's owner, has an energy conversion agreement with Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (Shell) for the generating station’s entire production.  Under this long-term agreement, the Tenaska facility converts fuel owned and supplied by Shell into electricity, which Shell markets throughout the Southeast region's wholesale power markets.


Three General Electric Frame 7FA gas turbines, three heat recovery steam generators and one General Electric steam turbine are incorporated into the station design, along with catalytic emission controls.

Read Power Engineering Magazine's article on the Tenaska Central Alabama Generating Station (60kb PDF).

The Tenaska Central Alabama Generating Station refinancing was named the North American Bond Deal of the Year in 2003 by Thompson's Project Finance International magazine.

In 2005, leading industry magazine Combined Cycle Journal offered an in-depth look at Tenaska's corporate and plant operational management philosophy after it presented five Best Practices awards for management, safety and operations to Tenaska’s Alabama plants, operated by Tenaska Operations, Inc. In 2009, the plants received special recognition by the publication for accumulating 15 Best Practices awards, the largest number received by any participant since program’s inception in 2004.

In 2008, Tenaska Central Alabama won two Best Practices awards from Combined Cycle Journal for employee innovations that increase plant efficiencies and ensure reliability. The plant also shared in a 'Best of the Best' Practices award from Combined Cycle Journal with other Tenaska-owned plants for successfully implementing a state-of-the-art performance monitoring program for critical plant processes to reduce operating costs, help identify potential problems and increase overall consistency among the plants in 2007.

Tenaska Central Alabama also won two awards from the National Safety Council for its excellent safety record and successful safety programs in 2009. The awards are the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award and the Perfect Record Award.

The Tenaska Central Alabama Generating Station provides Autauga County with substantial financial benefits. In addition to the construction jobs previously provided, the facility provides 25 to 30 well-paid, permanent positions and generates an annual payroll, including subcontractor services and vendors, of approximately $4 million per year. The plant is one of the county’s largest property taxpayers, providing revenue that can be used for roads, law enforcement and basic services. However, it does not require a large number of permanent workers who would increase demands for schools, roads, fire protection or other services.