The Tennessee Valley Authority will hold the second of two Internet-accessible public meetings on Wednesday to discuss an update of TVA’s Integrated Resource Plan, the agency’s long-term energy resource strategy.
Interested stakeholders and the general public are invited to learn about the purpose and scope of the IRP and an associated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, and to contribute suggestions.
The meeting will be 7-8:30 p.m. CST at MLGW University, 4949 Raleigh-LaGrange Road, in Memphis. A similar meeting was held two weeks ago in Knoxville.
The public can also participate through the Internet on a simultaneous webinar, which can be accessed at http:www.tva.gov/irp. Participants are encouraged to register in advance.
The sessions begin an approximately 18-month process to update the energy plan. TVA will be accepting written comments electronically and by conventional mail through Nov. 22.
“With the help of the public, TVA will identify the most effective energy resource strategy that will meet TVA’s mission and serve the people of the Valley for the next 10 to 20 years with cleaner, low-cost and reliable electricity,” TVA Vice President Joe Hoagland said.
To ensure a full range of issues and a comprehensive portfolio of energy resources are addressed, TVA invites members of the public, customers, businesses, environmental organizations and community leaders, as well as federal, state, and local agencies to comment on the scope of the IRP and Supplement Environmental Impact Statement.
TVA is refreshing the recommended planning direction in the 2011 Integrated Resource Plan to reflect dramatic changes affecting both TVA and the utility industry, including an abundance of lower-cost natural gas and declining growth in electricity demand.
As part of the process, TVA will select a review group representing key stakeholder groups to learn about the issues, discuss tradeoffs associated with different resource options, and assist TVA in developing an optimal energy resource strategy.
Written comments should be sent to Charles P. Nicholson, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D, Knoxville, Tn. 37902. Comments also may be submitted on the project website at http://www.tva.gov/irp, or by email at IRP@tva.gov.