EPA urges TVA to revisit study on Kingston plant replacement, citing “serious deficiencies”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2024

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org

Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency sent comments to the Tennessee Valley Authority highlighting “serious deficiencies” with the utility’s Final Environmental Impact Statement, or the review of power source alternatives that it is considering for the replacement of the Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tennessee.

The EPA’s comments criticize TVA’s lack of transparency and raise several concerns with the FEIS, including TVA’s failure to “disclose essential information underlying the key analysis of the costs of each option” and failure to consider a reasonable range of alternatives in the study, among other issues. In addition to pointing out that TVA had failed to appropriately address substantial concerns previously raised by EPA after TVA released the draft EIS in May of 2023, the agency highlighted recent analysis from the Applied Economics Clinic that demonstrates TVA can save ratepayers anywhere from $600 million to $1.3 billion dollars by selecting the solar and battery storage alternative rather than TVA’s current preferred gas option. EPA called TVA’s final analysis inadequate and called on the public utility to revisit its study by preparing a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

This comes at a time when residents and congressional representatives have been calling for more transparency from TVA on plant decisions and TVA’s long term energy planning process.

Statement from Bri Knisley, Director of Public Power Campaigns:
“EPA continues to highlight crucial flaws in TVA’s study of alternatives for replacing the coal plant at Kingston. TVA has been cutting corners in its planning, and this could end up costing ratepayers in the Tennessee Valley billions of dollars. The utility should absolutely follow EPA’s recommendation and prepare a supplemental analysis of alternatives.”

Statement from Chelsea Barnes, Director of Government Affairs and Strategy
“We applaud the EPA for continuing to stand up for the disadvantaged communities in Tennessee and the Valley as a whole. By pointing out the flaws in TVA’s analyses, the EPA is holding TVA accountable to its duty to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable electricity in the region.”