TVA Seeking Public Input on Future of Colbert Fossil Plant

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking for public input on a study of the environmental impacts of various options for the future of the retired Colbert Fossil Plant in northwest Alabama.

TVA needs to make a decision concerning the future disposition of the buildings and physical structures at Colbert that are no longer used for their original purpose of power generation. Units 1-5 were retired earlier this year under an agreement between TVA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

TVA has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment that considers four alternatives for the plant:

• Alternative A – TVA would assess, close, and secure Units 1-5, and implement an operations and maintenance program to maintain structures and equipment.
• Alternative B – TVA would conduct demolition of Units 1-5 and other structures to three feet below final grade (brownfield) including the six stacks.
• Alternative C – Assess, close, and secure Units 1-5, demolish outlying buildings, structures, retain powerhouse.
• Alternative D – TVA would take no action.

Under the preferred alternative, TVA would demolish all five units and other structures, including the six stacks, to a brownfield state three feet below ground level, making it suitable for commercial or industrial use.

Demolition could occur through the use of explosives, manual deconstruction, or a combination of these processes. All activity related to the proposed alternatives will take place on the Colbert site.

All combustion turbine gas-fired units at Colbert will continue to operate and are not considered in this draft Environmental Assessment.

The draft Environmental Assessment is available for review and comment through August 22, 2016 online at https://www.tva.com/Environment/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Reviews or by contacting Ashley Farless by e-mail at arfarless@tva.gov, or by traditional mail at 1101 Market St., BR 4A, Chattanooga, TN, 37402.

For more information about TVA and its 83-year mission of service to the Tennessee Valley, click here.