Move is driven by “rapidly growing electricity demand”
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will keep two of its largest coal-fired power plants running longer than planned, including the Cumberland facility serving much of the eastern Upper Cumberland.
Those two plants (Powell Creek and Cumberland) are among the largest coal generators in TVA’s fleet. Why is TVA keeping the plants open? Officials say the move is driven by “rapidly growing electricity demand,” especially from data centers. While new natural gas plants are coming online to allow service flexibility, TVA says coal ensures power stays “affordable and reliable” for 10 million customers.
The Cumberland Fossil Plant near Cumberland City and the Kingston Fossil Plant serve local utilities, including:
- Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corp. – Supplies parts of Jackson, Overton, Putnam, Smith and other counties.
- Cookeville Electric Department – Serves Cookeville city and the surrounding areas.
- Volunteer Energy Cooperative – Covers portions of Cumberland County and nearby communities.
Some environmental groups say the pollution isn’t worth the reward, and that the decision raises long-term strategy concerns, including hidden costs to customers…