In 1999, the United States Environmental Protection Agency commenced an enforcement action against Alabama Power under the Clean Air Act.

In 2006, the EPA announced that Alabama Power had agreed to spend more than $200 m to upgrade pollution controls as a partial settlement of this action.

[6][7] As of 2021[update], AP's coal-fired James H. Miller Jr. Electric Generating Plant is the single largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the United States.

[8] In addition to generating electricity, the waters surrounding the plants offer recreational opportunities for Alabama residents and visitors.

He alleges a utility company lobbyist warned him to be a team player if he wanted to keep his seat, and that utility-funded newspapers conducted a smear campaign that resulted in Dunn losing the next election and avoided the promised rate hearing.