James F. Crist Generating Plant

The James F. Crist Generating Plant (commonly called the Crist Plant or Plant Crist) is one of three plants wholly-owned by the Gulf Power Company. It is located in northwest Pensacola on Governor's Bayou, where Escambia River feeds into Escambia Bay.

The plant is coal-operated and has four active generating units with a total generating capacity of 930,000 kilowatts.

Initially called the Pensacola Steam Plant, it was first brought on-line on January 1, 1945. In the preceding years during World War II, limited construction supplies had precluded the construction of the much-needed plant, forcing Gulf Power to barge in a surplus floating Navy generating unit, which operated on pilings for one year and helped meet the rapidly increasing demand. The plant's first generating unit had a capacity of 22,500 kilowatts. More units were added over the years, with the 500,000-kilowatt Unit 7 coming on-line in August 1973.