Largest US utility releases plans for gas-fired capacity

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the largest power utility in the US serving more than 10mn people across seven states, released a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) May 12 for a 1,500 MW combined cycle facility to replace its coal-fired Kingston Fossil Plant, which is being retired.

“We are building the energy system of the future to enable ongoing and future growth around the region, focusing on cleaner and more efficient energy generation while maintaining low energy costs and reliable service for the 10mn people across the region,” TVA CEO Jeff Lyash said.

The Kingston plan also includes the potential for dual fuel aero derivative units, 100 MW of battery storage and 3-4 MW of solar generation capacity, the authority said.

The DEIS will not be completed until early 2024, and the additional capacity would not be operational until late 2026, the TVA said. 

Along with the Kingston project, the utility is developing 1,500 MW of simple cycle combustion turbines (CTs) at Colbert and Paradise, to come online late this year, along with 20 MW of battery storage at Vonore. A 500 MW peaking facility using aero-derivative CTs is planned to be online late next year at Johnsonville.

“To ensure a secure energy future, we are aggressively investing in infrastructure and generation,” the authority said. “Since 2014, we have invested $18bn in capacity expansion.”