A power plant unlike any other in the region will open to the public for tours as the Tennessee Valley Authority, the largest public power provider in the U.S., celebrates the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Members of the public can register to tour the Raccoon Mountain hydroelectric plant in the morning or afternoon of July 8. Tours are available at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and space is limited, according to TVA.
The pumped-storage plant, opened in 1978, pumps water to a reservoir on top of the mountain overlooking downtown Chattanooga and releases it through turbines similar to those found in dams to generate electricity. Carved into the mountain, TVA’s largest hydroelectric plant can produce enough electricity for up to 1 million homes.
(READ MORE: Raccoon Mountain waterline moves step closer to reality)
While people can submit a registration form at tva.com/next250 through July 1, the form does not guarantee a spot on the tour. Up to two visitors can apply for a spot, and applicants will be randomly selected. Visitors must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents, and all adults must show photo ID upon arrival.