TVA to Rely Heavily on Nuclear for New Generating Capacity

A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board member leading a committee charged with oversight for power plant operations told the Huntsville Times that the utility

will have to expand...capacity by 50 percent to meet demand over the next 20 years.

A big contribution to TVA's generating capacity will come with the restart of Browns Ferry Unit 1 which is scheduled for April or May. That unit will supply 1200 MW to the grid--enough to supply about 650,000 homes. TVA has done a tremendous job with this project. The fact that the restart will be completed on-time and on-budget bodes well for new nuclear construction in the U.S.

In addition, TVA is looking at starting Watts Barr Unit 2 within about four years. That plant was never completed because of a reduction in the predicted growth of demand.

Regarding TVA's energy portfolio, the article states

[Thrailkill said] the utility's future focus for power generation will likely be on "nuclear and clean coal," but also predicted tighter environmental regulations will be applied to its power plants, including greenhouse gas emissions.

[He] said there is also likely to be future regulations requiring more power generation through renewable sources of power, which he predicted will raise TVA's costs.

Kudos to TVA for keeping open all of its energy options and preparing for a future that will likely include regulations to significantly reduce emissions.