14-04-2025
TVA seeks public input on proposed facilities to process coal ash
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is considering building facilities in Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky to process coal combustion residuals (CCR) for beneficial use.
The TVA is seeking public comments on an environmental review for the facilities, which would be built at former and existing TVA coal-fired power plant sites. They are considering 10 of their 12 coal plants for the processing facilities, including Bull Run, Kingston, John Sevier, Gallatin, Cumberland and Johnsonville Fossil Plants in Tennessee, Shawnee and Paradise Fossil Plants in Kentucky and Colbert and Widows Creek Fossil Plants in Alabama.
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Currently, only four TVA coal plants (Cumberland, Gallatin, Kingston, and Shawnee) are generating power. The Kingston Fossil Plan is in the process of moving from coal to natural gas.
Coal combustion residuals, or CCR, are byproducts from burning coal for electricity, including coal ash and gypsum. The facilities aim to reduce the amount of CCR stored in landfills by processing it for use in construction products like concrete and drywall. This is a part of TVA's efforts to use CCR instead of storing it in landfills. Over the past five years, TVA reports that nearly 70% of CCR produced were beneficially used.
A draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) is available for review. Public input is invited on options in the PEA, including no action or building processing facilities. Comments can be submitted online, by mail to Brittany Kunkle, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT-11B-K, Knoxville, TN 37902, or via email to nepa@ through May 14, 2025. The TVA added that comments should specify the project as 'Beneficiation Processing Facility PEA' with submissions.
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This comes after President Donald Trump signed four executive orders to boost coal production. The president also recently fired two TVA Board of Directors members, leaving the board without five members. This means the board does not have a quorum and cannot 'direct TVA into new areas of activity, to embark on new programs, or to change TVA's existing direction.'
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