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Environmental Policy

TVA's overarching  Environmental Policy is to improve quality of life and the environment in the Tennessee Valley by providing reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy; engaging in proactive stewardship of the TN River system and public lands; and supporting sustainable economic growth.

We comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations, and commitments. We maintain an Environmental Management System (EMS) that fosters continuous improvement in our proactive stewardship and reducing our environmental footprint.

TVA continues to integrate  sustainable practices into business operations by establishing goals, measuring progress and reporting performance in these five key areas:

TVA environmental policy - Air, climate change, natural resources, water, waste pie chart

Climate Change Mitigation

TVA actively reduces its carbon emissions through cleaner production options and energy efficiency initiatives. We are:

Read TVA's Statement on Climate Change, its Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, and its page on Carbon Dioxide

Air Quality Improvement

TVA improves regional air quality through emission controls on existing generation and through adopting cleaner energy options. We are:

  • Employing air-emission reduction equipment at our coal-fired plants
  • Retiring coal plants
  • Considering air quality as a critical component in future capacity-planning decisions

Read more about air quality at TVA.

Water Resource Monitoring

TVA manages an integrated river system for multiple uses and provides clean water for Valley needs. We are:

Read more about water quality at TVA.

Waste Minimization

TVA conducts its operational and business functions striving to reduce waste and increase recycling. We are:

  • Reducing the waste footprint of all TVA facilities by decreasing waste generation and improving recycling
  • Adapting our generation facilities to produce less waste
  • Recycling coal-combustion waste

Read about Coal Combustion Residuals and about the Toxics Release Inventory.

Sustainable Land Use and Natural Resource Management

TVA manages public lands for multiple benefits, striving to maintain good environmental health while balancing the needs for sustainable development and recreation. We are:

Read more about natural resource management at TVA.