Coal news and updates

The Tennessee Valley Authority on Tuesday filed a plan to study the retirement of the Cumberland Fossil Plant, one of the largest and highest-polluting coal plants in the United States.

 

The move comes as President Joe Biden pushes for cleaner energy by rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement. The Biden administration also set a goal to have the country reach 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035.

 

The TVA's notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement explores a possible timeline to retire the Cumberland plant's two coal units. It will also identify any generation replacement that may be needed.

 

JoAnn McIntosh, a clean energy advocate with the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, says it makes "no environmental or economic sense" to keep the plant operating for another ten years.

 

"Cumberland is one of the nation’s largest and most polluting coal plants, releasing over 8 million tons of carbon pollution into the air each year, as well as 20 times more mercury into the water than any other U.S. coal plant," McIntosh said. "It makes no environmental or economic sense to keep running this polluter for another decade, and it certainly makes no sense to replace it with methane-leaking, CO2-emitting gas plants."

 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $15.5 million in new funding to deploy solar energy in underserved communities and to build a more diverse, skilled workforce to help reach the administration's ambitious goal of 100% clean energy by 2035.

 

The TVA is asking for the public's input on the EIS, including alternatives and environmental issues to be addressed. Comments can be submitted HERE or by email at nepa@tva.gov.

 

Source: fox17.com