NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation’s largest public utility, has decided to reconsider the shutdown of two coal-fired power plants it had previously planned to close. This change in strategy precedes an upcoming board meeting dominated by members appointed during the coal-friendly Trump administration.
New filings from the TVA reveal a desire to abandon closure dates for the Kingston Fossil Plant and the Cumberland Fossil Plant in Tennessee, contingent on further action from its board. The TVA's revised plan includes the introduction of natural gas plants at both locations, albeit while keeping the coal plants operational.
Originally, the TVA aimed to close its remaining coal plants by 2035 to decrease greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. However, the utility, which provides power to around 10 million customers across seven states, is reevaluating these closures due to increased electricity demands and regulatory changes. “As power demand grows, TVA is looking at every option to bolster our generating fleet to continue providing affordable, reliable electricity to our 10 million customers, create jobs and help communities thrive,” TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks said in a statement.
Clean energy advocates have raised alarms regarding this decision, fearing it undermines the TVA's prior commitment to reducing pollution from its coal plants. Gabi Lichtenstein, Tennessee Program Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, has criticized the TVA for opting to sustain operations at these coal plants without public consultation, stating, “TVA is telling the people who live near these coal plants that they will breathe in toxic pollution from not one, but two major power plants for the foreseeable future.”
Criticism is compounded by the fact that during his presidency, Donald Trump made several decisions impacting the TVA board, blocking new initiatives and favoring the coal industry to a considerable degree. The TVA, which is under pressure to meet its goal of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035, faces the challenge of balancing these environmental commitments with the burgeoning energy demands that have seen data centers incorporating artificial intelligence significantly increase power requirements.
Upcoming discussions within TVA's board are expected to address the complex interplay between meeting energy demands and adhering to environmental responsibilities, with potential implications for the utility's strategy towards fossil fuels and renewable energy sources.
