landscape with river

Environmental Policy

TVA's overarching Environmental Policy is to produce increasingly clean, reliable and affordable power, support sustainable economic growth in the Tennessee Valley and promote proactive environmental sustainability in a balanced and ecologically sound manner.

As a good steward, it is TVA's duty to promote the proper public use of the Tennessee River watershed and its natural resources. We are committed to sustainability and continuous improvement, proactive stewardship in managing our natural resources and environmental footprint and maintaining compliance with all applicable environmental and legal requirements.

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

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, its Carbon Dioxide page and an interesting article on TVA's Carbon Competitiveness.

Air Quality Improvement

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

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:

  • Lessening impact on aquatic systems while balancing thermal cooling needs
  • Reducing consumption of water at TVA's metered facilities
  • Managing water quality and quantity impacts through permitting activities on and around TVA reservoirs; the collection, maintenance and distribution of water quality information; and strategies to manage increased water demand

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 facilites to produce less waste
  • Recycling coal-combustion waste

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

Environmental Reviews

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

  • Managing TVA lands, mineral rights and shoreline access to better achieve environmental commitments while meeting the needs for recreation, residential access and economic development
  • Providing for the most ecologically and environmentally sound use of the lands under its purview, through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Read more about environmental reviews at TVA.

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.