Sustainability

TVA was created to benefit the public good, and our mission has stood the test of time. Today, the challenges are different, yet they are just as critical. Our mission means providing the region with affordable and reliable energy, a healthy environment and a prosperous economy – now and for future generations.

Today, the three Es – energy, environmental stewardship and economic development – continue to drive everything we do to sustain the Tennessee Valley region. We remain committed to serving “the people to make life better” as laid out by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he signed the TVA Act in 1933.

Our Mission in Motion

TVA powers the region’s energy economy. We work hand-in-hand with local power company partners to drive economic success by providing affordable, reliable and clean energy that attracts innovative industries, jobs and investments to our seven-state region.

TVA is a steward of the environment. We manage about 11,000 miles of shoreline and 293,000 acres of public lands along the Tennessee River and its tributaries. Our environmental stewardship includes clean air control programs, sustainable waste management, and proactive protection of the region's rich biodiversity.

TVA serves people and communities. Across the Tennessee Valley region, TVA delivers vital services to assist families, communities, businesses and industries to help the region grow. We also support our workforce – the heart of TVA – through our culture and our continuing focus on safety and well-being.

TVA is committed to full transparency and engagement with stakeholders. As a government agency, our mission of service is fundamentally different from that of publicly traded companies. Our governance structure provides the oversight and perspective capable of driving progress.

We carry out our mission through the adoption of policies and programs that support our sustainability and the disclosure of performance and planning information that facilitates engagement with our sustainability stakeholders.

Disclosures and Guidance Documents

Biodiversity Policy

Protecting biodiversity is integral to continued sustainable development of the Tennessee Valley region. This policy commits to proactive biodiversity protection across operations. Read the TVA Biodiversity Policy.

Environmental Policy

This synergistic and forward-thinking policy lays forth TVA's plan for environmental stewardship and compliance, technology innovation and a growing renewable energy portfolio. Read the Environmental Policy.

Integrated Resource Plan

Building on our fundamental service commitment, the Integrated Resource Plan provides a 20-year roadmap for making decisions about how TVA can meet future demand for power in new and innovative ways. Read the Integrated Resource Plan.

Natural Resource Plan

This plan addresses TVA's management of biological, cultural and water resources; recreational reservoir land planning; and public engagement. The goal, always, is to find the optimal public benefit of each action TVA takes. Read the Natural Resource Plan.

Regulatory Requirements:

TVA must comply with laws and regulations, including:

Customers and Stakeholders: Many directly served customers and customers of our LPCs currently have annual CO₂ goals and reporting requirements which include greenhouse gas emissions from their consumption of purchased electricity.

Utility Industry Direction and Competition: As distributed energy, energy efficiency and smart technology change the marketplace, utilities must think differently to survive.

Biodiversity

mussel survey

The Tennessee Valley region is one of the most biodiverse places in the world and is home to species which exist nowhere else. Learn how TVA is protecting biodiversity through stewardship, partnerships and habitat conservation.