The Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors approved closing the Bull Run Fossil Plant at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 3 in Western Kentucky on Feb. 14, 2019.
Chattanooga, TENN. — A major Tennessee utility provider has approved closing two rail-served, coal-fired power plants, alluding to a changing landscape in electricity generation.
In a Valentine’s Day meeting, the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors approved closing the Bull Run Fossil Plant at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 3 in Western Kentucky. The two plants are among TVA’s oldest operating power-generating facilities.
The Bull Run plant is served by CSX Transportation and receives about one coal train per week, TVA studies indicated. Paradise receives the majority of its coal by truck, but is also served by CSX. A CSX official says Paradise receives little coal by rail, and that the coal originates from Peabody Energy, where it is currently delivered by the Indiana Rail Road. Bull Run receives coal from several sources, most of which are operated by Murray Energy Corp. Murray Energy is the largest privately owned coal company in the U.S., producing about 76 million tons of bituminous coal per year.
“Given the projected need for energy over the next several years, where flat to declining demand combines with more renewable energy resources and higher load swings, TVA must” continuously evaluate its generating assets, TVA studies stated.
In a Twitter post earlier this week, President Donald Trump urged TVA, a federally owned utility, to reconsider closing the Paradise Unit 3 generator. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urged TVA to postpone the decision to close the plants until May, when two of President Trump’s appointees to the TVA board would take their seats. The vote to close the Paradise plant passed by a 3-2 margin. The vote to close Bull Run passed with three votes in favor. Only one vote in opposition was audible in a live broadcast of the Chattanooga meeting.
Board members indicated the process of closing the plants could take as long as four years.
Paradise Unit 3 went online in 1970. Two older coal-fired units, originally activated in 1963, were retired in 2017. Bull Run became operational in 1967, boasting two generating units.
In a Valentine’s Day meeting, the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors approved closing the Bull Run Fossil Plant at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 3 in Western Kentucky. The two plants are among TVA’s oldest operating power-generating facilities.
The Bull Run plant is served by CSX Transportation and receives about one coal train per week, TVA studies indicated. Paradise receives the majority of its coal by truck, but is also served by CSX. A CSX official says Paradise receives little coal by rail, and that the coal originates from Peabody Energy, where it is currently delivered by the Indiana Rail Road. Bull Run receives coal from several sources, most of which are operated by Murray Energy Corp. Murray Energy is the largest privately owned coal company in the U.S., producing about 76 million tons of bituminous coal per year.
“Given the projected need for energy over the next several years, where flat to declining demand combines with more renewable energy resources and higher load swings, TVA must” continuously evaluate its generating assets, TVA studies stated.
In a Twitter post earlier this week, President Donald Trump urged TVA, a federally owned utility, to reconsider closing the Paradise Unit 3 generator. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urged TVA to postpone the decision to close the plants until May, when two of President Trump’s appointees to the TVA board would take their seats. The vote to close the Paradise plant passed by a 3-2 margin. The vote to close Bull Run passed with three votes in favor. Only one vote in opposition was audible in a live broadcast of the Chattanooga meeting.
Board members indicated the process of closing the plants could take as long as four years.
Paradise Unit 3 went online in 1970. Two older coal-fired units, originally activated in 1963, were retired in 2017. Bull Run became operational in 1967, boasting two generating units.
Mr. Dupree: To compare a plumber to a trained scientist and engineer is rather strange. I do not refer to Heller as an authority. I am more interested in the information he presents. When I was growing up I continually heard “Question Authority.” What happened? Just because I am trained as a scientist, I don’t expect you to believe what I say. Check the data. I don’t care how you feel about the data or me.
TVA is correct in this decision, regardless of what King Donald desires, with his minions. TVA recently brought Watts Bar II on-line, a source of reliable nuclear power for the next 50 years. Their hydro power is solid. Knowing that the region is steadily reducing use of antiquated illumination for LED-based light, more energy-efficient products in the house-hold product line, and other initiatives, it is a breath of fresh air to see a government board ignore political pressure to make a rational, well-thought-out decision.
(I worked TVA in nuclear construction, and lived in Fayetteville for twenty years plus. This decision to shutter coal plants is one that the rate payer can appreciate.)
Mr. Heller: To cite Tony Heller as an authority on Earth’s atmospheric thermal system because he’s a geologist and an electrical engineer is atune to citing the statement of a plumber, even a very skilled professional plumber, as an authority on all aspects of a nuclear reactor.
Maybe a few less miners with black lung disease !!
The coal plants to be closed are over 50 years old. They are becoming more maintenance intensive and are not as cost efficient as newer plants. TVA will continue to operate coal, nuclear, hydro, and alternate energy in the manner most effectively deliver the energy produced for the region. If you check other utilities you will find increasing use of natural gas and less use of coal and nuclear.
Talk about stupidity. Carbon dioxide does not cause global warming. Turns out humans do not control the climate. (Refer to Tony Heller on YouTube – he’s trained as a geologist and electrical engineer.) TVA is a government entity, The government of the US is incompetent to run anything -e.g. Amtrak, CA hi-speed rail, subsidized anything, and soon PG & E in CA. Who pays for all this garbage? The working middle class, not the billionaires. The sooner we get back to capitalism, not cronyism, the better. Bottom line? sell the TVA and Amtrak right now.
You have to ask..since TVA does have Nuclear Poqwer Plants; are they going to use that source for power?
First paragraph, third line down, the writer used “eluding”. From the context, he meant “alluding”.
John Winter – not quite how you portray it. How about a couple of quotes from TVA President, Bill Johnson.
“The moves we have made in our generation fleet have been driven by economics more than environmental regulation,” Johnson said. “Our requirement under the TVA act is to make electricity at the lowest feasible rate so these are always first economic decisions about what is best for our consumer.”
from
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/aug/27/trouble-paradisetvstudies-whether-close-more-c/477822/
“It turns out that reducing carbon emissions makes good economic and environmental sense.” from
https://www.powermag.com/tva-ponders-closure-of-iconic-coal-units/?pagenum=2
Natural Gas is what is killing off coal, read the articles linked above for more info.
So of I read this right, their power needs are declining & the plants are no longer needed, and they are depending on wind mills & solar to pick up the slack. Good luck with that & watch your electric bill go up.
Garland Hicks – Good catch.
The government never makes a choice that makes the most economic sense. They are not the ones that PAY the bills!
Eluding? It should be alluding.