Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest federal utility, may extend the life of coal-burning units at two of its largest power plants, Kingston and Cumberland.
The decision to do so could come as early as Wednesday’s TVA board of directors meeting. A decision to keep burning coal at Kingston and Cumberland into the 2030s would add TVA to a growing list of utilities to reverse course on coal plant closures — extending the life of coal burners that in some instances are half a century old or older.
“As power demand grows, TVA is looking at every option to bolster our generating fleet to continue providing affordable, reliable electricity to our 10 million customers, create jobs and help communities thrive,” said TVA spokesperson Elizabeth O’Connor in a statement.
“Due to increasing demand and changes in the regulatory landscape, TVA is evaluating options for its existing fleet of assets, in accordance with least-cost planning principles required under federal law,” O’Connor continued. “TVA is evaluating the potential for continued operation of its coal plants at its Kingston and Cumberland sites.”
