TVA launches study on future power sources

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced today it is launching a new study to develop its power plans for the next two decades.

The new Integrated Resource Plan will update the last such study TVA completed in 1995. TVA spokeswoman Barbara Martocci said the study will chart energy options for the federal utility through 2029.

The plan will outline various sources for producing electricity, their costs and reliability and their potential impacts on the environment. The study also will look at ways to conserve and manage natural resources and consider types of viable renewable generation that are available.

“These meetings and the resulting plan will help TVA determine what is most important to Tennessee Valley stakeholders and ratepayers in energy and environmental matters,” TVA Senior Vice President Anda Ray said in a prepared statement today.

The study will begin with a series of public meetings in July to get public input on TVA’s natural resource management activities and power source options.

One of the meetings is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21 in the University Center at UTC.

Details about upcoming public meetings and how to comment online are available at TVA’s web site, www.tva.gov/irp.