Tennessee Valley Authority
Chattanooga Airport Adds Solar Generation to TVA Renewable Power
October 5, 2011
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A solar power system consisting of more than 4,000 panels at the airport in Chattanooga will add more clean renewable power under the Tennessee Valley Authority's growing Renewable Standard Offer initiative.
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority has signed an agreement with TVA and EPB, the Chattanooga electric utility, to provide up to one megawatt of solar power under TVA's Renewable Standard Offer initiative.
The electricity generated by the solar system will connect to the TVA transmission system through EPB, subject to environmental requirements and transmission arrangements.
Construction is underway on the project on the southeastern side of the airport near Jubilee Drive. When completed in December, the array will be the largest solar installation at any airport in the region.
"TVA looks forward to working with the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority and the EPB to bring more renewable power into the Tennessee Valley," said John Trawick, TVA senior vice president for Commercial Operations and Pricing. "The high visibility of the airport site will raise awareness of our renewable efforts and encourage others to participate."
Energy efficiency improvements during the last five years have reduced the peak power demand at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport from 4.5 megawatts to 3.5 megawatts. While electricity from the solar installation will go to the TVA grid and not directly to power the airport, the power purchased by TVA will help offset airport costs.
TVA launched its Renewable Standard Offer in October 2010 for mid-size generators of biomass direct-combustion, co-firing or gasification; methane recovery, wind or solar that produce 51 kilowatts to 20 megawatts of electricity. The initiative is designed for projects too large for TVA's Generation Partners program, which was developed for residential and small commercial customers that generate 50 kilowatts or less.
The Renewable Standard Offer allows developers in the region to enter into contracts for up to 20 years. The long-term contracts will help TVA avoid rising purchased power prices and keep consumer prices down, while making project financing easier for developers.
TVA pays a set price for renewable power based on the season and time of day the electricity is available to the TVA grid. The renewable energy initiative will help TVA meet peak power demand and increase the supply of generation that emits no greenhouse gases. The Renewable Standard Offer is limited to a total of 100 megawatts from all participants, with no single renewable technology representing more than 50 megawatts of the total.
As of July 2011, TVA has received applications for six projects totaling 10 megawatts of capacity from landfill gas and solar. Also as of July, TVA's owned and purchased renewable energy capacity is nearly 4,800 megawatts, including hydro power. TVA has commitments to add another 1,200 megawatts of combined wind, solar, landfill, methane and biomass.
To learn more about the Renewable Standard Offer, visit the TVA website at www.tva.com/renewablestandardoffer.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for distribution utility and business customers in most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia – an area of 80,000 square miles with a population of 9 million. TVA operates 29 hydroelectric dams, 11 coal-fired power plants, three nuclear plants and 11 natural gas-fired power facilities and supplies up to about 34,000 megawatts of electricity, delivered over 16,000 miles of high-voltage power lines. TVA also provides flood control, navigation, land management and recreation for the Tennessee River system and works with local utilities and state and local governments to promote economic development across the region. TVA, which makes no profits and receives no taxpayer money, is funded by sales of electricity to its customers. Electricity prices in TVA's service territory are below the national average.
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Media Relations, Knoxville (865) 632-6000