Displaying items by tag: mark kimbell
To critics’ dismay, TVA plans to replace coal with natural gas. The utility also plans to double its solar supply.
Citizens call on TVA to stop passing gas
KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Valley Authority in coming years plans to add both natural gas and solar plants to its portfolio to meet what it says are rising energy demands.
TVA’s Board of Directors laid out the federal utility’s plan in a meeting at Norris Middle School in May. Environmentalists at a previous hearing criticized the utility’s focus on natural gas rather than renewables or other measures. Other people, largely tied to local power providers, argued that a switch to renewable energy would be unreliable.
TVA showed a map in a press release following the meeting, showing four proposed natural gas plants and two proposed solar plants. Two of those natural gas plants would be in Tennessee while the other two are planned for Alabama and Kentucky. It stated these new plants will total 3,800 megawatts. It also spoke of its System Operations Center, set to open in fall 2024 in Georgetown to manage the utility’s grid. TVA also stated a desire to research nuclear technologies.
“Our region is experiencing growth at six times the national average, which means we must invest in our current power system and build new generation so we can continue meeting our region’s demand,” said TVA president and CEO Jeff Lyash.
Several citizens criticized TVA’s focus on natural gas plants and new pipelines at the listening session May 9. Among them was Clinton resident and activist John Todd Waterman.
- tva board
- tva board meeting
- tva climate change
- tva fossil plant
- climate action
- climate change appalachia
- jeff lyash
- system operations center
- natural gas
- natural gas power plant
- natural gas environment
- natural gas bad?
- tva kingston
- tva bull run
- john todd waterman
- tva systems operation center
- dana moran
- sierra club natural gas plant
- mark kimbell
- gallatin department of electricity
- coal plant replacement
- natural gas vs coal
- investment in new fossil fuel infrastructure
- fossil fuel
- fossil fuel industry
- fossil gas power plant
- tennessee valley authority
- climate change
- tva solar energy
- solar energy
- solar energy in tennessee