01
Coal handling
At full output the plant uses around 20,000 tons of coal a day. It is received, stored, crushed and conveyed to the boilers in a continuous, carefully managed cycle.
General James M. Gavin Plant · Cheshire, Ohio
Power for two million homes, made on the Ohio.
Two supercritical units. 2,600 megawatts. One of the largest generating stations in Ohio, delivering baseload power to the PJM grid since 1974.
Since 1974
Built to run when the region needs it most.
For half a century, the Gavin Plant has stood on the banks of the Ohio River in Gallia County, turning fuel, water and the skill of its people into dependable electricity. Two supercritical units feed the 765-kilovolt backbone of the PJM grid, keeping homes, hospitals and industry running through every season.
2,600MW
Nameplate generating capacity
2units
Supercritical units of 1,300 MW each
765kV
Transmission connection to the grid
~2million
Homes the plant is capable of powering
~20,000t/day
Tons of coal at full output
About the plant
A landmark of Ohio's energy story.
The General James M. Gavin Plant is named for the World War II commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. Its two units entered service in 1974 and 1975, and together they make Gavin the largest coal-fired facility in Ohio and one of the largest in the United States.
In February 2017, Gavin represented slightly more than 11% of Ohio's total electric generating capacity. Today it is operated by Gavin Power, LLC, part of Lightstone Generation.
- Location
- Cheshire, Gallia County, Ohio
- Units
- 2 × 1,300 MW supercritical
- In service
- 1974 · 1975
- Grid
- 765 kV · PJM Interconnection
- Operator
- Gavin Power, LLC
How we generate
From fuel to the grid, in four steps.
02
Supercritical boiler
Each unit's boiler operates above water's critical point, where water becomes steam without boiling. That means less fuel per megawatt-hour than conventional subcritical designs.
03
Turbine & generator
High-pressure steam drives the turbines, which spin the generators. Each unit is rated at 1,300 MW. Cooling towers then return the condensed water to the cycle.
04
Into the grid
Power leaves the switchyard on 765-kilovolt transmission lines into the PJM Interconnection, which serves millions of customers across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
05
Emissions controls
Before flue gas reaches the stacks, it passes through selective catalytic reduction, flue-gas desulfurization scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators.
Environmental stewardship
Cleaner output, layer by layer.
82%
Lower nitrogen oxides
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) units convert NOx into nitrogen and water vapor, cutting nitrogen oxide emissions by 82%.
SCR
94%
Sulfur dioxide removed
Flue-gas desulfurization scrubbers capture 94% of sulfur dioxide before the gas leaves the plant.
FGD
ESP
Particulates captured
Electrostatic precipitators use charged plates to remove fine particles from the flue gas stream.
Electrostatic precipitators
Community & Gallia County
Rooted in the Ohio Valley.
~$6M
In property taxes each year
As Gallia County's largest taxpayer, Gavin helps fund local schools and county government.
Local charities & nonprofits
Our people and the plant support community organizations across the region every year.
#1
Largest coal-fired plant in Ohio
A cornerstone of the regional economy and of reliable power for the communities we serve.
Safety & people
Everyone goes home safe. Every shift.
Running a 2,600 MW plant takes operators, engineers, mechanics, electricians, chemists and support teams who take pride in their craft and in looking out for each other.
- 01
Safety first
Clear procedures, job briefings and a culture where anyone can stop unsafe work.
- 02
Ownership
Teams own their equipment and the reliability of the units they run.
- 03
Craft & growth
Technical training and room to grow from the field to leadership.
- 04
Community
We live where we work, and we show up for Gallia County.
Operations · Maintenance · Engineering · Environmental · Administration
Vendor & contractor portal
One secure portal for every partner on site.
Contractors and suppliers manage their work with Gavin in one place, from onboarding to approved invoices.
- Vendor registration & secure access
- Resource & equipment management
- Timesheets with overtime support
- Contract tracking & budget alerts
- Approval & rejection workflows
- Expense monitoring against contract ceilings
Our history
Five decades on the river.
- 1974
Unit 1 enters service as part of the American Electric Power system.
- 1975
Unit 2 enters service, bringing the plant to 2,600 MW.
- 2017
Lightstone Generation, a joint venture formed by Blackstone and ArcLight, completes its acquisition of the plant from AEP.
- 2025
Energy Capital Partners acquires Lightstone Generation in August.
- Today
Gavin continues to deliver dependable baseload power to the PJM grid.
Contact
Talk to the Gavin team.
Gavin Power, LLCState Route 7
Cheshire, Ohio 45620
United States