TVA studies new system for plant at Tullahoma

TVA studies
new system
for plant at
Tullahoma

TULLAHOMA, Tenn.
(AP) — The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering
building its first "combined cycle" power plant in Tullaha-
ma.
This would be a highly
efficient, 510-megawatt operation capable of lighting
100,000 homes.
The $300 million plant
would generate electricity in
two ways: through two
combustion turbines fueled
by natural gas or oil and then
a steam-powered turbine
driven by the combustion
turbines' exhaust.
It would be a first for
TVA, the nation's largest
public utility. The agency
relies on coal, nuclear power
and hydroelectric genera-
tion.
TVA is considering locat-
ing the plant at the Arnold
Engineering Development
Center, which is operated by
the U.S. Air Force. The site is
close to a large natural gas
pipeline and a high-voltage
TVA substation.
While the federal utility
says it is only considering
the feasibility of the project,
it says the plant could be in
operation by June 2003.
TVA will hold a public
meeting on the plant tonight
in Tullahoma.
The agency has operated
several gas-fired turbines for
peak power demand since
the 1970s. It recently has
been adding more units
after encountering problems
relying on purchases of peak
power from other utilities.
Stephen Smith, executive
director of the Knoxville-
based Southern Coalition for
Clean Energy, said gas-fired
units are recognized as more
efficient and environmen-
tally friendly than other
combustion power sources.
Still, he said he worries
that TVA is spending mil-
lions of dollars — that could
be used to reduce its $26 bil-
lion debt — on new power
plants to meet demand
instead of looking for ways
to curtail consumption.