The Tennessee Valley Authority is working on a new long-range plan for how it will supply cheap electricity while maintaining natural resources. The power provider will hold a public meeting in Nashville Monday evening to gather input.
TVA’s mission includes both economic development and environmental stewardship. Integrated Resource Project manager Randy Johnson says the agency has to balance those two concerns. That’s because some customers are worried about global warming, while others chiefly want TVA to create jobs and provide cheap power.
“So we have to do a trade-off analysis. Climate change will definitely enter in, as will the economic impacts of what we might do to meet climate-change requirements.”
Johnson also expects the high profile of December’s ash spill (photos) in Kingston will heighten public interest in TVA’s plans. The meeting is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Ellington Agricultural Center.
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TVA is also taking comments online.
More from Randy Johnson:
“We have to find the best balance to meet all three parts of our mission: affordable power, environmental stewardship and economic development. And they all go hand in hand. It’s a three part mission and we have to do a good trade-off analysis and try to find the best balance for that.”
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