River Bend Solar Project

On November 12, 2015, TVA issued a final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact of its proposed purchase of power from the River Bend Solar Project, an 80-megawatt (alternating current) solar generating facility proposed to be constructed and operated by River Bend Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.

The River Bend Solar Project would occupy approximately 645 acres in Lauderdale County, Alabama, about five miles west-northwest of Florence. The solar generating facility would consist of multiple parallel rows of photovoltaic panels on single-axis tracking modules, direct to alternating current converters, and transformers. The facility would be connected to TVA’s existing Colbert Fossil Plant–Selmer 161-kilovolt transmission line adjacent to the solar farm site. River Bend Solar plans to begin construction by early 2016 and complete construction and begin commercial operation by the end of 2016.

The EA describes the anticipated impacts of constructing and operating the proposed solar generating facility and the connection to the TVA transmission system. TVA issued a draft of the EA for public review and comment in August 2015. The final EA addresses the comments that TVA received on the draft EA and provides updated information about the proposed solar generating facility and transmission connection.