BROWNS FERRY
OperatingNuclear power plant
- Capacity
- 3,494 MW
- Primary fuel
- Nuclear
- County
- Limestone County
- Operator
- TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
- Status
- Operating
- Commissioned
- 1974
- EIA plant ID
- 46
- Generators
- 3
- Technology
- Nuclear
- Net generation (2024)
- 29,403 GWh
- Capacity factor (2024, EIA nameplate)
- 87%
- Data vintage
- EIA-860 2024 final; EIA-923 2022-2024 final
- Coordinates
- 34.7042, -87.1186
BROWNS FERRY, a 3,494 MW Nuclear power plant in Limestone County, Alabama. Operated by TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, commissioned 1974.
How BROWNS FERRY compares
With 3,494 MW of capacity, BROWNS FERRY is the largest of the 64 operating power plants Bywatts maps in Alabama and the largest of the 2 operating Nuclear plants in the state. It accounts for about 66% of Alabama's operating Nuclear capacity and 11% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 2nd-largest of the 55 operating Nuclear plants in the database. Commissioned in 1974, it is older than 50% of the 64 operating Alabama plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, runs 7 operating plants in Alabama totaling 6,524 MW.
EIA-860 lists 3 generators at the site with 3,854 MW of nameplate capacity, all nuclear technology (this page's HIFLD capacity figure is 3,494 MW). Net generation was 29,403 GWh in 2024 (an 87% capacity factor), about the same as in 2022. Its generators came online between 1974 and 1977.
Grid neighborhood
The nearest named substation is BROWNS FERRY (500 kV), about 0.1 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 500 kV line owned by TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, under 0.1 miles away. Another 4 operating power plants totaling 2,208 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is DECATUR ENERGY CENTER (902 MW, Natural Gas).
Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant, substation and transmission line records and EIA-860/923 survey data; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology
Weather peril exposure
BROWNS FERRY is a 3,494 MW nuclear power plant in Limestone County, AL, operated by TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, commissioned in 1974. Limestone County carries low modeled catastrophe exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index, scoring 1.6 of 5 at the 16th national percentile. Earthquake is the leading peril, rated Relatively Low by FEMA at the 88th percentile.
The Bywatts loss layer is calibrated to solar PV hardware, so it is not applied to a nuclear plant. The ratings below are the FEMA National Risk Index county hazard ratings for this location.
Limestone County hazard ratings
| Peril | FEMA rating | National percentile | Peril score | Events per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 88th | 4.5 of 5 | <0.01 |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 84th | 4.4 of 5 | 61.0 |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 79th | 4.2 of 5 | 0.62 |
| Riverine flooding | Relatively Moderate | 67th | 3.7 of 5 | 2.1 |
| Strong wind | Relatively Moderate | 52nd | 3.1 of 5 | 6.4 |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 51st | 3.0 of 5 | 0.03 |
| Ice storm | Relatively Moderate | 48th | 2.9 of 5 | 0.86 |
| Heat wave | Relatively Low | 45th | 2.8 of 5 | 7.6 |
| Winter weather | Relatively Moderate | 28th | 2.1 of 5 | 4.6 |
| Hail | Very Low | 20th | 1.8 of 5 | 4.3 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 15th | 1.6 of 5 | <0.01 |
Perils not assessed in Limestone County
These perils carry no usable National Risk Index figure for this county, so they are excluded from the scoring rather than scored zero. A zero would claim the peril was assessed and found benign.
| Peril | Why it is not scored |
|---|---|
| Coastal flooding | FEMA rating is "Not Applicable" for this county |
Model hail, wind and flood exposure for Limestone County in the weather risk calculator
Ratings are the FEMA National Risk Index county hazard ratings; the peril score is a Bywatts transform of the FEMA national percentile. Full data sources and the solar vulnerability methodology are in the weather risk calculator.
Modeled estimate for screening and negotiation. Built from FEMA National Risk Index county hazard data and a solar vulnerability layer documented above. Not a quote, a binder, or actuarial advice, and not a substitute for a carrier's own model. Hazard data: FEMA National Risk Index December 2025, synced 2026-07-24. Resolution is county level, not site level.