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Honoring a Generation
As Bull Run Retires, Employees Reflect Proudly on Legacy
Ralph Painter had many roles in his 45 years at TVA, but his work at Bull Run Fossil Plant always stood out as especially memorable.
And it was because of the people.
Bull Run had the best maintenance team in the world, Painter, 101, said, in the months leading up to Bull Run’s retirement.
Everybody there absolutely loved their job.
Sadly, Painter passed away last month – but not before he got the opportunity to visit the plant one last time.
Painter’s first day at TVA was Dec. 8, 1941 – the day after the Pearl Harbor bombing. He worked at TVA’s Appalachia dam and later in various positions in hydro and coal generation.
He had a connection to this plant near Oak Ridge, Tennessee – he had worked at Bull Run in 1967, when the plant first went online.
At the time, Bull Run stood as the largest in the world in volume of steam produced. The only single-unit plant in TVA’s coal fleet, this giant machine had nearly 50% more power than the largest units in operation back then. It represented an exciting new achievement in single-unit output.
Bull Run was originally designed to produce up to 950 megawatts with a recent summer net capability to generate up to 765 megawatts – enough to power more than 440,000 homes.
“Bull Run is a unique plant that’s kept power flowing for more than half a century,” Bull Run plant manager Wade Hawkins said. “That power kept the lights on for this region, has helped raise families and stimulate economic growth.”
And Hawkins would agree with Painter.
It’s about the people, too.
“What makes Bull Run special is the people that have served this community over the years,” Hawkins said.
End of an Era
This isn’t the first time Bull Run scrubber board operator Barry O’Neal has faced a site closure.
As a 20-year TVA veteran, he worked at the former John Sevier Fossil Plant near Rogersville, Tennessee, when it retired in 2012.
With the retirement of Bull Run, he has mixed feelings.
“I’m sad to see the end of an era with coal generation, but I am also ready to move forward to my next opportunity,” O’Neal said. “I was emotionally tied to John Sevier when it retired because that’s where I started my TVA career.
“But like many of the current Bull Run employees, we are transplants from other now-retired TVA fossil plants. And we understand the importance of closing this chapter to the best of our ability and moving toward a cleaner energy future.”
As a fossil site operator, O’Neal is among the many team members who ensure these assets remain running until their assigned retirement date.
With TVA reducing its reliance on coal, the enterprise aims to build new generating assets to replace retiring megawatts. Ultimately, these new assets will help ensure affordable, reliable energy is provided to those who live, work and play in TVA’s seven-state region.
“This job is fulfilling because I know I’m keeping the lights on to keep the Valley prospering,” O’Neal said.
His leaders have selected him to continue working at Bull Run, where he’ll be part of the transition team preparing the site for demolition. He may later choose a new career path with TVA’s hydro or gas generation.
TVA has remained committed to helping those affected by site retirements. This includes a workforce plan that helps employees transition to new roles.
“Plant closures are always very impactful to our team members. I’m pleased that every employee at Bull Run was given their first choice of post-site-retirement options, whether that be a new position within TVA, remaining on-site as part of the transition team or retirement,” TVA Coal vice president Kris Edmondson said.
A Greener Tomorrow
As TVA moves to a cleaner energy future, there will be less reliance on coal.
TVA’s goal is to retire the entire coal fleet by 2035.
“This isn’t the last time we’ll say goodbye to a plant that has provided so much to TVA, the Valley and the community,” Jacinda Woodward, senior vice president of power operations, said. “It’s not an easy decision to retire a plant, but it’s one we must make to secure a reliable and cleaner energy future as our generation portfolio and load shapes change.”
And yet, the Bull Run site may continue to serve the Valley region.
TVA’s leaders are considering many options for the site’s future, including the potential for battery storage or the installation of synchronous condensers to support the stability of the transmission grid.
Even as TVA’s generation portfolio evolves to meet future demand, those who have worked at Bull Run Fossil Plant over the decades can look back – and ahead – with pride and optimism.
This impressive fossil plant has contributed to the Valley region for more than half a century, and its legacy will be forever cemented in TVA’s history.
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