Pumped Storage Hydropower Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Tennessee and Alabama

May 2025

TVA is releasing the Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) draft environmental impact statement for public comment (DEIS). In the draft, TVA is analyzing four alternatives, including a No Action Alternative, the expansion of the existing PSH facility at Raccoon Mountain, constructing a new facility near Pisgah, Alabama (Rorex Creek), and constructing a new facility near Fabius, Alabama (Widows Creek).

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is a type of hydroelectric energy storage that consists of two water reservoirs at different elevations in which water can be pumped to the higher elevation reservoir during periods in which energy storage is needed and then can be released during periods when energy is needed on the electrical grid. PSH is utilized for long-term storage to provide for reserves on the grid, use excess energy to store water in the higher reservoir when demand drops below the base load generation, and to support baseload generation sources, such as nuclear, and variable renewable generation sources, such as wind and solar. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is currently studying adding more PSH within its service area by building new PSH facilities or expanding the existing PSH at Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Plant (RPS).

A new facility would be similar in design to the existing Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Plant, near Chattanooga, TN, with a new upper reservoir constructed on a mountaintop adjacent to an existing reservoir on the Tennessee River. Proposed new PSH plants consist of water conveyance tunnels and an underground powerhouse constructed by tunneling within the mountain. A new PSH located near Rorex Creek, Pisgah, Alabama with an energy generation capacity ranging from 1,200 megawatts (MW) up to 1,600 MW.

An expansion of the existing RPS would consist of constructing another underground powerhouse and another series of water conveyance tunnels to connect the existing upper reservoir with the existing Nickajack Reservoir. The new powerhouse would be capable of at least 800 MWs of generation. Additional storage in the upper reservoir by excavation could be considered.

Public Involvement

TVA has released the DEIS for public comment. Comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the project administrative record and will be available for public inspection. To be considered, comments must be submitted or postmarked no later than July 14, 2025.

To submit a comment, click this link

The project was initiated in May 2023, when TVA issued a Notice of Intent requesting public comments on the scope of the review, alternatives to be considered, and environmental issues that should be addressed. TVA issued a Scoping Report in July 2023 that summarizes the input received during the public scoping period.

Public Meetings

TVA will host an in-person public meeting on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 pm CT at Pisgah High School. 60 Metcalf Street, Pisgah, Alabama, 35765

TVA held a virtual public meeting on June 22, 2023. A recording of this meeting can be found through the link below.

Virtual Public Meeting Recording - June 22, 2023

A public open house was held on February 23, 2023. Presentations from the open house can be found through the links below.

Project Schedule

(Dates are subject to change. Unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)