Site Selection honors Alabama Power as a Top Utility in Economic Development
Alabama Power is again among those recognized as a Top Utility in Economic Development by Site Selection magazine. Presented for accomplishments during 2024, the annual award signifies Alabama Power’s continued excellence in recruiting new jobs, industries, and investments to the state.
During 2024, Alabama Power’s Economic and Community Development (ECD) team worked with new and expanding companies that created more than 2,900 new jobs and invested a total of $3.1 billion in communities across the southern two-thirds of the state.
Alabama Power has provided customers with reliable and affordable electricity since 1906, and now serves homes, businesses and industries with more than 74,000 miles of distribution and nearly 11,000 transmission lines in a service area that covers 45,000 square miles. One of the first utilities in America to take an active role in economic development, Alabama Power continues to lead the way in building Alabama’s economy of the future.
Patrick Murphy, vice president of economic development, Alabama Power. (Alabama News Center)
“Alabama Power’s commitment to economic development is more than a century old and stronger than ever,” said Patrick Murphy, the company’s vice president of economic development. “We are involved in all phases of the economic development process, part of our mission to drive the growth of Alabama and benefit the people and businesses in the communities we serve.”
Site development continues to be a cornerstone of Alabama Power’s commitment, through use of the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act. Enacted in 2023, the measure directs more state resources to site development, improvement and acquisition; in 2024, that included $23.5 million in site development grants to 29 communities. Alabama Power aided that process by using its GIS capabilities and drone technology to assess thousands of acres of land to identify optimal sites for SEEDS funding.
To encourage innovation and cultivate entrepreneurship, Alabama Power supports the Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator. In 2024, Techstars welcomed its fifth cohort, with the 12 start-up teams representing seven U.S. states and five countries, while the company’s internal venture investments assisted in the growth and retention of 167 jobs. Alabama Power has been instrumental in supporting the establishment and growth of at least eight accelerator/ecosystem initiatives across the state.
In January 2024, the Alabama Mobility and Power (AMP) Center moved into the newly completed Smart Communities and Innovation Building on the University of Alabama campus. This state-of-the-art facility houses offices, collaborative space, research labs, training resources and dedicated event space. Throughout the year, the AMP Center was used to engage with numerous companies considering relocation or expansion to Alabama. Through various events, the Center has showcased Alabama’s growing role as a hub for battery innovation, as well as electric mobility, power research and workforce development.
In September 2024, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees awarded Stage 1 approval and $15 million in funding for development of the AMP Battery Manufacturing Research Lab. The new lab will significantly enhance the AMP Center’s efforts to strengthen Alabama’s position in the national EV battery supply chain.
Located on the University of Alabama Campus, the Smart Communities and Innovation Building houses the Alabama Mobility and Power (AMP) Center, along with offices, collaborative space, research labs, training resources, and dedicated event space. (University of Alabama)
“EVs will continue to represent a significant growth opportunity for Alabama,” said Murphy. “Alabama Power has advanced or supported numerous measures to ensure that our state is well-positioned to continue capitalizing on opportunities in that sector.”
Connectivity is another area in which Alabama Power is building for the future. Presented with an opportunity to expand network capabilities for a major data center in Montgomery, Alabama Power partnered with fellow Southern Company entities to establish a 300-mile fiber route. The new route connects the Montgomery data center with Birmingham and Atlanta while also enhancing connectivity for other customers in those markets.
Alabama Power’s commitment to connectivity is also reflected in its investment in community-focused initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide across the state. That includes partnering with the Alabama Fiber Network to extend the network to include more than 500 community anchor institutions across the state.
Through its Renewable Energy Credit (REC) and Renewable Subscription Program (RSP) Alabama Power continues to connect customers with renewable energy options. In 2024, the company obtained approval to procure an additional 160MW of solar projects to support customers participating in the RSP.
In partnership with Jefferson State Community College, Alabama Power launched the Distribution Control Center Training Program. The 10-week program trains participants in the skills needed to work in the well-paying, high-demand field of Power Delivery Operations, including computer technology, emergency planning, monitoring and operating techniques, electric utility engineering and customer service. Additionally, Alabama Power continues to provide support to internal partners on application for federal grants, with its Funding Services team helping partners identify grant opportunities that align with common goals.
“We’re pleased to be recognized by Site Selection,” said Murphy. “This recognition underscores the ways in which Alabama Power works for the benefit of our state and its people. We will continue to work to ensure that Alabama meets and exceeds its goals in attracting new business, helping existing businesses thrive and creating opportunities that keep us moving forward.”