Proposed Solar, Gas Projects Could Add Nearly 700 Megawatts

The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking for public comment on environmental studies on a trio of proposed projects that, if approved, could provide nearly 700 megawatts of affordable, reliable, resilient and increasingly cleaner power to residents across the region.

The proposed projects are located in west Tennessee and north Mississippi and will potentially add solar and natural gas generation to the power grid.

The projects, which include Ripley II Solar, Magnolia Solar and New Caledonia Simple Cycle Combustion Turbine, are being evaluated through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.

The NEPA process includes opportunities for the public to provide comments and considers the potential impacts that proposed projects may have on people and the environment before any final decisions can be made.

“We actively invite public feedback as we identify opportunities to meet growing energy demand while reducing emissions,” said Michael McCall, TVA Vice President of Environment and Sustainability. “Obtaining input from a variety of perspectives is a key component of the NEPA process and integral to meeting our long-standing mission of making life better for the people we serve.”

Diverse Generation

TVA has around 4,000 megawatts of solar power either online or contracted for development, continuing toward a goal of up to 10,000 megawatts by 2035. Just 1 megawatt can power up to 1,000 homes. Ripley II and Magnolia solar sites, if approved, could provide up to 190 megawatts.

The New Caledonia Simple Cycle Combustion project further supports TVA’s transition to cleaner energy. The proposed gas project would add 500 megawatts of flexible, dispatchable power to support the system as needed, including periods of high demand or when the sun isn’t shining.

Consideration of these projects reinforces TVA’s commitment as a clean energy leader, having already achieved a 58% reduction in mass carbon emissions from a 2005 baseline, one of the nation’s largest reductions in carbon emissions related to energy supply.

“The importance of a diverse generation mix can’t be overstated,” TVA Chief Operating Officer Don Moul said. “This diversity enhances the reliability and resiliency of the system, allowing us to use different assets based on the situation and needs, while furthering our commitment to adding clean energy assets to our system.”

For details on how to review and submit comments on each project, visit TVA.com/NEPA.  All comments will be included as part of the official NEPA record.

The Proposed Projects

Ripley Solar II’s proposed location is Lauderdale County, Tennessee. It would sit on 194 acres within a 490-acre tract of land. The facility, if approved, would provide up to 30 megawatts of solar power. A draft Environmental Assessment is posted online for review. Comments will be accepted through Aug. 14.

Magnolia Solar is a proposed solar facility that would generate 160 megawatts. The proposed site is located on a 1,466-acre tract in Monroe County, Mississippi. A draft Environmental Assessment is posted online for review and comments will be accepted through Aug. 16.

The New Caledonia site is a TVA-owned property in Lowndes, Mississippi, about 10 miles northeast of Columbus. The site was previously occupied by a combustion turbine facility that was constructed in 1998 and operated for several years by a private company. That generating equipment has since been removed.

The New Caledonia site offers many advantages, including a pre-existing gas line and substation. If TVA decides to construct and operate a combustion turbine facility on the New Caledonia site, it will produce about 500 megawatts. The draft Environmental Impact Statement for New Caledonia is available by clicking here. The public may comment on the draft until Sept. 4, 2024.

Final documents on each proposed project will be published with responses after careful consideration of comments.

Public Input

Interested parties can submit comments for the Ripley II or New Caledonia projects by emailing [email protected], or through regular mail to Erica McLamb, Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market St. Chattanooga, TN 37402.

To provide comment on the Magnolia project, email [email protected] or send written comments to Brittany Kunkle, Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market St. Chattanooga, TN 37402.