The Tennessee Valley Authority is moving forward with a plan to build a new natural gas plant in Tennessee to replace the aging coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant. This decision comes despite concerns raised by the Environmental Protection Agency about the utility’s environmental review not complying with federal law. The TVA board, with a majority of members appointed by President Biden, is set to meet in Nashville amid calls from environmental groups to invest in renewables instead of fossil fuels. The EPA has asked the TVA to redo parts of its analysis, citing various concerns with the plan to install new gas turbines.
Despite the EPA’s suggestions for a reevaluation, the TVA has decided to proceed with the gas plant and has stated that it has addressed the concerns raised by the EPA. However, critics argue that the utility’s decision does not take into account recent changes in the energy sector, such as falling prices for renewables, government incentives for clean energy projects, and stricter environmental regulations. This puts the TVA at risk of not meeting the Biden administration’s goal of eliminating carbon pollution from power plants by 2035 to combat climate change.
Energy analysts point out that other utilities are taking advantage of advancements in renewable energy technology and government incentives to rapidly expand their solar capacity. Florida Power and Light, for example, expects solar to make up close to 40% of its generation by 2030. The TVA, on the other hand, remains focused on gas despite the potential for greater investment in solar and battery storage. Critics argue that many utilities are resistant to transitioning to renewables due to their unfamiliarity with these technologies.
The TVA has faced similar criticism from the EPA in the past over its decisions to build new natural gas plants. The utility has been sued by environmental groups over previous decisions to install gas turbines, with accusations that its environmental reviews are inadequate and violate federal law. Democratic Senator Ed Markey has called on the TVA to listen to the EPA’s concerns and comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. Despite facing criticism, the TVA maintains that a majority of its energy is carbon-free, with significant contributions from nuclear and hydropower.
While the TVA plans to build 10,000 megawatts of solar by 2035, critics argue that this timeline is too distant given the urgency of addressing climate change. They suggest that the utility should focus on building as much solar capacity as possible immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The national shift away from coal towards natural gas, nuclear, and renewables highlights the need for utilities like the TVA to prioritize clean energy sources to meet climate goals. Ultimately, the TVA’s decision to proceed with a new gas plant despite concerns about the environmental impact reflects the challenges of transitioning to a more sustainable energy system.
