Bull Run Fossil Plant. (Photo: Tennessee Valley Authority)
TVA’s plans to deconstruct its coal-fired Bull Run plant is in line with the agency’s transition to cleaner energy and economic goals, but the process has raised questions from environmental groups about how TVA will clean up hazardous waste and limit impact to local communities.
Public comments expressed concerns over TVA shutting down a plant some members of the public think is integral for the stability of the region’s electric grid, with some citing the December 2022 rolling blackouts.
But Bull Run was not operational during the 2022 winter storm. Power plants require constant upgrades to meet current regulations but also to keep running normally. However, there’s only so many times you can make updates before the costs outweigh buying a newer model. In this case, Bull Run was old and unreliable in its last years.
And the community living near Bull Run is ready for the next moves involving the plant’s 750 acres.
“We want to turn it into something that can be safe and clean for the community,” Anderson County Commission chair, Tyler Mayes said.