Kingston Fossil Plant Retirement

Roane County, Tennessee

Environmental Impact Statement

Following the publication of the 2019 IRP, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began conducting end-of-life evaluations of our coal fleet to inform long-term planning. The aging coal fleet is experiencing deterioration of material condition and performance challenges. The performance challenges are projected to increase because of the coal fleet’s advancing age and the difficulty of adapting the fleet’s generation within the changing generation profile.

TVA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the impacts associated with the proposed retirement and demolition of the nine coal-fired units at the Kingston Fossil Plant (KIF) and the construction and operation of facilities to replace the retired generation. The environmental review also assesses potential impacts from proposed replacement generation. Currently, TVA is considering two replacement options:

(a) The retirement of KIF, including the decommissioning and demolition of the coal units, and the construction and operation of a CC gas plant paired with a dual-fuel Aero CT Plant and new switchyard, a 3 to 4 MW solar site, a 100 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and new transmission line infrastructure and connections on the Kingston Reservation

(b) The retirement of KIF, including the decommissioning and demolition of the coal units, investment in the local and regional transmission system, and the construction and operation of multiple solar (15+) and BESS facilities through PPA agreements; a portion of which would be located at alternate locations in eastern Tennessee.

In addition, the EIS evaluates actions associated with gas supply and transmission components for each alternative. The construction of a potential natural gas pipeline would be subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction and additional review will be undertaken by FERC in accordance with its own NEPA procedures. 

In June and July 2021, TVA conducted scoping on this project and requested public comments on the scope of the EIS and alternatives that should be considered. This input was critical to TVA in its development of the EIS and was summarized in a Scoping Report (see “Related Documents” below). 

TVA published a Draft EIS on May 12, 2023, for public review and comment.  During the public comment period (May 12 to July 3, 2023), TVA hosted a virtual public meeting (June 8) and public meetings in Rockwood (June 13) and Kingston (June 14) to share information about the proposal and the draft environmental analyses, to gather additional input from the public, and to answer questions and address concerns.  The public submitted comments to TVA at these meetings, via an online form, and by mail and email.   

TVA is currently considering the comments submitted during this review period as it prepares a Final EIS. TVA plans to complete the environmental review in early 2024. See the NEPA Schedule below.

NEPA Schedule and Recordings From the Meetings

Virtual Meeting Recording

NEPA Schedule