Tennessee Valley Authority
Pollution Prevention and Reduction
TVA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Activities
1990-2003
- Successfully restarted Browns Ferry Nuclear Units 2 and 3, and uprated their output by 5 percent each
- Successfully licensed and started up Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 1
- Began a long-term program to modernize existing hydro facilities to increase efficiency and output
- Implemented the Green Power Switch Program allowing customers to purchase blocks of power generated by wind, solar, or landfill gas.
- Began co-firing fuels with coal, including wood wastes and wastewater treatment digester gas (methane)
- Minimize consumption of energy at TVA buildings, using sustainable building designs and managing TVA’s vehicle fleet to reduce high gas consuming vehicles and improve vehicle use efficiency
- Implemented an aggressive Demand Side Management Program
- Participating in the Utilitree Program for sequestration of greenhouse gases through reforestation.
- First utility to agree to participate in DOE Climate Challenge Program. Over the last decade TVA has reduced, avoided or sequestered over 260 million tons of CO2
2003-Future
- Announced the restart of Browns Ferry Nuclear Unit 1 and the extended power uprate of all three Browns Ferry Units to 120 percent of their original licensed power, and submitted a request for license extension for the Browns Ferry Units to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Completing the hydro facility modernization program in 2005.
- Participating in Power Partners Initiatives including PowerTree Carbon Company reforestation activities and Coal Combustion Products Project
- Working with EPRI and others on the CO2 Capture and Storage Test Centers Initiatives to investigate technologies for CO2 capture and geologic storage
- Adding 27 megawatts (MW) of wind generating capacity to the Green Power Switch Program
Summary
- From 1990 through 2003, TVA’s programs have resulted in the addition of around 4,500 MW of non-CO2 emitting generation to our system, and resulted in reducing, avoiding or sequestering over 260 million tons of CO2 as reported under Section 1605b of the Energy Policy Act.
- Over the next several years, TVA’s plans will result in approximately 2,000 MW of additional non-CO2 emitting generation added to our system, which will significantly reduce the GHG intensity of our system.