The Eaton Electric Generating Plant is a three-unit Natural gas-fired power plant located in Forrest County, in Petal, Mississippi. Each of the three units generates 22.5 Megawatts (MW) of electricity, with a total plant capacity of 67.5 MW. The plant draws cooling water from the Leaf River.
Named for Barney Eaton, Mississippi Power's first president, the plant was the first high-pressure steam plant in the state of Mississippi and the first plant built by Mississippi Power Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company. Plant Eaton made headlines when it was built in 1945 as it was the largest and most modern plant of its day. The first unit came on line March 22, 1945.
Originally, Plant Eaton was intended to generate electricity to aid the United States in production of materials for World War II; however, the plant’s largest contribution turned out to be producing power for the boom in electricity demanded following the war. As of the late 1990s, its use was limited to meeting peak demands during the summer.