|
A
Look to the Future
 |
|
Kathryn
J. Jackson, Ph.D.
|
As this report
goes to press, millions of electricity consumers around the country
are wondering about the future of their power supply. Media stories
are replete with in-depth explanations of how electricity generation
and delivery systems operate.
All this coverage
is a marvelous catalyst, encouraging Americans to consider our dependence
on energy and to think about the value of reliable, affordable electricity
and all the modern conveniences it powers. For the first time in a long
while, consumers are discussing renewable energy sources and conservation;
they’re exploring the question of how the nation’s appetite
for electricity can be satisfied in ways that minimize effects on the
environment; as investors, they’re giving serious attention to
technologies that increase the efficiency of coal-fired generation.
Moreover, residents
of the Tennessee Valley are looking at the energy resources that fuel
the region’s economy and asking if TVA is prepared for the competition
that lies ahead. As a regional development agency and public power provider,
TVA’s commitment to the sustainable development of the Tennessee
Valley has never wavered.
Current events
indicate that TVA is fortunate to have anticipated the need for the
investments in planning and operations that enable it to fulfill its
obligations. The TVA system has benefited from that foresight, and so
have consumers. Last year’s dramatic decrease in air emissions,
despite a rise in power generation to meet record demand, is one of
many recent achievements that we plan to build on as we move forward.
In my estimation,
there has never been a more inspiring and challenging time to be in
public service at TVA. In these historic moments, the opportunities
are greatest for those who are prepared. We will look to our stakeholders
for new systems of feedback and accountability, and we will invest in
the preparedness that enables us to protect the environment’s long-term
health. When competition comes, we will be ready.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Environmental Executive
River System Operations and Environment
|