James F. Crist Generating Plant

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The Crist Plant on Escambia Bay

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. It is named for James F. Crist, president of Gulf Power from 1948 to 1955.

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.

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