TVA Taps Plus Power for Massive Alabama Battery to Fortify Grid

JACKSON COUNTY, AL – April 21, 2026 – The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation's largest public power provider, is making a significant investment in grid resilience by partnering with Houston-based Plus Power on a massive new battery energy storage project in northern Alabama. The 20-year agreement will bring the 200-megawatt, 800-megawatt-hour Crawfish Creek Energy Storage project to Jackson County, a move designed to enhance power affordability and bolster energy security across the seven-state region TVA serves.

The facility, selected through a competitive bidding process in early 2025, represents a major step in TVA's strategy to modernize its power grid to meet soaring energy demand from new manufacturing plants, data centers, and a growing population. Construction is slated to begin in 2028, with the project expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2029.

A Linchpin for Regional Growth and Reliability

The Crawfish Creek project is a direct response to the Tennessee Valley's accelerating economic growth and the corresponding strain on its energy infrastructure. TVA projects a need for thousands of megawatts of new generation capacity over the next decade to keep pace with development. In Alabama alone, TVA-supported projects have helped attract over $45 billion in capital investments in the last five years. This battery project is a critical piece of the puzzle to support that expansion.

"Battery storage is essential to protecting the reliable, affordable electricity our region depends on to power next generation technologies," said Monika Beckner, TVA vice president of power supply & fuels, in a statement. "Projects like Crawfish Creek strengthen the Valley's energy security, improve our ability to manage extreme conditions, and help unleash American energy."

The system will function like a giant rechargeable battery for the grid. Under the agreement, TVA will charge the battery with lower-cost energy during off-peak hours and dispatch that power back to the grid when demand—and cost—is highest. This load-shifting capability not only helps maintain affordable rates for TVA's 10 million customers but also enhances grid stability during periods of extreme heat or cold.

For Jackson County, the project promises a tangible economic boost. It is expected to create between 50 and 100 construction jobs and four permanent, full-time operational roles. Beyond direct employment, large-scale infrastructure projects like this often generate significant property tax revenues for local municipalities, providing long-term funding for schools, roads, and public services.

The Grid's New Backbone: Advanced Battery Technology

While the concept of storing and releasing energy is straightforward, the technology behind the Crawfish Creek project represents a leap forward in grid management. The facility will be more than just a passive power reservoir; it will serve as an active, intelligent component of the grid.

Industry experts anticipate the project will utilize advanced lithium-ion battery technology, similar to other cutting-edge facilities developed by Plus Power. This includes the landmark Kapolei Energy Storage facility in Hawaii, a 185 MW system that plays a crucial role in stabilizing Oahu's grid.

Crucially, the Crawfish Creek system will feature "grid-forming" capabilities. Unlike older systems that simply follow the grid's existing electrical current, grid-forming inverters can create their own stable voltage and frequency. This allows the battery to act like a traditional power plant, providing the foundational stability necessary for a reliable power system. This capability is especially vital as more intermittent renewable resources like solar and wind are added to the grid.

The system will also provide millisecond-fast frequency response, instantly injecting or absorbing power to smooth out fluctuations and prevent potential blackouts. This rapid response is a service that traditional power plants often struggle to provide as efficiently.

"Battery energy storage systems are flexible and millisecond-fast, making Crawfish Creek uniquely suited to meet the region's evolving needs," noted Brian Duncan, chief commercial officer at Plus Power. "We are excited to partner with TVA to deliver a resource that supports economic expansion while strengthening American energy dominance and security."

Powering the New South: A Regional Energy Transformation

The TVA-Plus Power partnership is not happening in a vacuum. It is a prominent example of a broader energy transformation sweeping across the southeastern United States. Driven by robust economic and population growth, a boom in solar energy development, and supportive federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, the region has become a hotbed for battery storage deployment.

Major utilities like Duke Energy in the Carolinas and Southern Company in Georgia and Alabama are also making multi-billion-dollar investments in battery storage to firm up their grids and manage the influx of renewable energy. These projects are seen as essential tools for ensuring a reliable energy supply while transitioning away from fossil fuels. The Crawfish Creek project positions TVA and Alabama at the forefront of this regional trend.

For Plus Power, this project marks a significant strategic expansion. It is the company's first foray into the Southeast, establishing a foothold in its seventh state market. With an existing operational portfolio of 1,650 megawatts across five states, the company brings a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale storage solutions that enhance power reliability from Texas to Hawaii.

A Strategic Partnership for the Future

The 20-year agreement establishes a clear operational framework: Plus Power, through its Crawfish Creek Energy Storage subsidiary, will build and retain ownership of the facility, while TVA will control the charging and dispatch of energy based on the real-time needs of its system. This structure allows TVA to secure the flexible capacity it needs without the upfront capital cost of owning the asset, a model that has become increasingly common in the utility sector.

The project timeline, with a 2029 operational date, aligns with TVA's long-range resource planning to meet future demand peaks. As a corporate agency of the United States that receives no taxpayer funding, TVA's ability to leverage private-sector innovation and capital through partners like Plus Power is key to its mission of providing reliable, low-cost energy.

By integrating this advanced battery system, TVA not only enhances its ability to manage its diverse energy portfolio—which includes nuclear, hydro, gas, and solar—but also strengthens the resilience of a region critical to America's aerospace, military, and advanced manufacturing sectors. The Crawfish Creek project is more than just infrastructure; it is a strategic asset for the future of the Tennessee Valley.