The Tennessee Valley Authority invites the public to review and comment on its draft Environmental Assessment for a proposed gas plant to replace the Allen Fossil Plant in Memphis.
The assessment was conducted to determine potential environmental impacts of alternative technologies being assessed for the coal plant.
TVA committed to install emission controls or retire Allen Fossil Plant’s coal units by December 2018 under a 2011 agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions across its coal-fired generating fleet.
As part of that agreement, TVA is now in the process of determining the best course of action, including retiring some coal units.
The draft Environmental Assessment of TVA’s proposed action to construct and operate a natural gas-fired plant at the Allen site is available for public review. The public comment period runs from noon July 2 through Aug. 5. The draft Environmental Assessment can be found at http://www.tva.com/allen-ea.
An open house will be held Tuesday, July 8, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. CDT, at Amtrak Central Station’s Boardroom, 545 S. Main St., Memphis. The public is invited to meet with TVA staff to learn about the proposal, review maps, ask questions and submit comments. Comments can be submitted in writing at the public meeting, by fax at 865-632-3451 or online at http://www.tva.com/allen-ea.
For additional information or to submit comments by commercial mail, contact Ashley Farless, NEPA Specialist, 1101 Market St., Chattanooga, TN, 37402, arfarless@tva.gov, 423-751-2361.
"TVA’s board of directors and management are committed to making the best decision for the Allen Fossil Plant and having a transparent public process that ensures local residents’ views are included when the options for Allen are reviewed. The review includes potential impacts on the natural environment, economy, availability of resources and TVA’s long-term goal for a diversified energy portfolio that provides the Valley with low-cost, reliable power," officials stated.
The Allen Fossil Plant was completed in 1959 by Memphis Light, Gas and Water, and purchased by TVA in 1984. The existing plant has three coal-fired units that produce approximately 4.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to supply 340,000 homes.