Alabama Power makes work brighter for American Apparel military uniform makers
In a factory in Opp, Alabama, a team of workers sits at sewing machines, fashioning uniforms for America’s warfighters one stitch at a time.
From station to station, the uniform takes shape — a pocket here, a button there — until, at the end, a complete pair of trousers is ready for final inspection.
The workers are experts at their individual stations, giving careful attention to detail and taking pride in their work, even as they move at a pace that allows few, if any, pauses.
The work at American Apparel–Opp has been enhanced thanks to improved LED lighting, making that detailed work easier on the eyes.
That better lighting is thanks to Alabama Power’s Energy Services team, which led engineering, procurement and construction for facility upgrades at the plant.
“Alabama Power came in and helped us out,” said Justin Messick, assistant general manager at American Apparel–Opp. “We were able to change out all of our LED lighting here. It has been a tremendous help.”
Messick said that as the work was taking place, he would stand in the portion of the plant still lit by the old fluorescent lights and marvel at the difference in brightness under the LEDs.
“You don’t realize, using just old fluorescent lighting, how much of an increase in lighting you get when you switch over to LED power,” he said. “When you’re manufacturing garments — the sewing, the stitching, all that — you really need to be able to see what you’re doing to produce a good-quality garment. It has really helped our workers tremendously.”
American Apparel-Opp, like a number of factories, operated under old fluorescent lighting. (Alabama Power Energy Services)
American Apparel-Opp is enjoying brighter days with new LED lighting. (Alabama Power Energy Services)
Among those happy with the new lighting is Peggy Henderson, known affectionately as “Mrs. Peggy.” The 85-year-old general manager of the plant has been working in that building since 1968, before American Apparel even owned it.
Peggy Henderson, or
“Mrs. Peggy,” is general manager of American Apparel-Opp and has worked in the building since 1968. (American Apparel-Opp)
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said of the brighter plant.
“What we do in Energy Services really matters,” said Ricky Olive, director of Energy Services at Alabama Power. “When we see how our work makes a difference for customers like Ms. Peggy, it reminds us why we love what we do.”
It’s a service that Alabama Power offers that many are not aware of.
“A lot of people don’t realize that Alabama Power and Energy Services partner with local companies to identify energy-saving opportunities such as lighting retrofits or HVAC control upgrades,” said Christina Nix, project manager with Energy Services at Alabama Power. “We do that so those local businesses can take that energy savings and reinvest it in their core operations.”
In addition to the 557 light fixtures replaced at American Apparel–Opp, Alabama Power Energy Services oversaw the installation of new HVAC controls to help better manage the climate at the factory.
“It really helps us control the temperature more accurately,” Messick said. “It controls our power consumption — everything’s running at a steady temperature. We can reinvest that into more equipment here to expand our operation or update some of our sewing equipment.”
Bridgett Pippin, team leader with Energy Services, said projects like the one at American Apparel–Opp help businesses save on energy costs but also make a difference for employees.
“These things help the customer save money over time,” Pippin said. “But to me, what’s important is the impact we made on American Apparel–Opp and the people who work there. They were so thankful to come to work and see their stations clearly and see what they were doing. The upgrades made a world of difference to help ensure a comfortable and safe work environment.
“The impact we made in that community, for the people who work there, helps me see the value in what we’re doing in Energy Services.”
Messick also appreciated how Alabama Power and its partners completed their work without interrupting the flow of the important work being done for the military at American Apparel–Opp.
“Alabama Power has been great to work with,” he said. “They were very flexible, working around our people here to avoid interrupting our production lines. I just can’t say enough about Alabama Power. They’ve done a great job here and were very flexible, coming in after hours — whatever we needed to keep production moving.”
Workers at American Apparel-Opp can see better as they sew uniforms for the U.S. military, thanks to lighting improvements led by Alabama Power Energy Services. (American Apparel-Opp)
American Apparel has made combat and utility uniforms for all branches of the U.S. military since 1987. Based in Selma, it operates plants in Opp, Oneonta and Centre, and employs 480 workers — more than 100 of them in Opp. Alabama Power Energy Services previously worked to make similar improvements to American Apparel–Oneonta.
In addition to Energy Services, Alabama Power works with business and residential customers to help them lower their bills through reduced power usage such as using online tools and weatherization tips. Alabama Power has also committed to freezing rates through 2027. Newsweek recently named Alabama Power in its list of “Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2026.”