Changes

In 2006, TVA's 12 coal-fired power plants emitted at least 100.4 million tons of CO₂ (1.67% of ''all'' U.S. CO₂ emissions) and at least 453,000 tons of SO₂ (3.02% of ''all'' U.S. SO₂ emissions).

In August 2009, CEO [[Tom D. Kilgore]] announced that TVA was studying the possibility of closing its [[John Sevier Fossil Plant]] in Tennessee and the oldest six units at its [[Widows Creek Fossil Plant]] in Alabama. A federal judge has ordered TVA to install pollution equipment on the plants by the end of 2013, at an estimated cost of more than $1 billion. However, the company has not yet budgeted any money for the improvements. In 2010 TVA is planning to begin building an $820 million gas-powered plant to replace the generation at its John Servier Plant. The agency has already reduced power production from the oldest six units at Widows Creek. Environmental groups want TVA to shut down or convert to cleaner fuels the oldest and least efficient of its coal plants, including Widows Creek, John Sevier, and [[Johnsonville Fossil Plant|Johnsonville]] plants.<ref>[http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/24/tva-may-shutter-aging-coal-fired-plants/?local "TVA may shutter aging coal-fired plants,"] ''Chattanooga Times Free Press,'' August 24, 2009.</ref>

On July 26, 2010, a federal appeals court reversed a judge's ruling requiring prompt installation of upgraded emission controls at four TVA coal-fired power plants, three in Tennessee and one in Alabama. U.S. District Judge Lacy Thornburg had ordered the accelerated cleanup at the TVA plants, ruling that emissions affecting air quality in North Carolina's scenic western mountains were a "public nuisance." A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision. Appeals court Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III wrote that allowing the ruling to stand would undermine the nation's "carefully created" [[Clean Air Act]] regulatory scheme. North Carolina can either seek a rehearing before the full appeals court or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.<ref>[http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/federal_appeals_court_blocks_r.html "Federal appeals court blocks ruling for fast-track emission controls at 4 TVA coal-fired plants"] al.com, July 26, 2010.</ref>

In 2009, the [[National Association of Manufacturers]] joined in an [http://www.nam.org/~/media/3D99146ECAAE44209911A91E92AACCC7/North_Carolina_v_TVA.pdf amicus brief] supporting the TVA with the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]], the [[American Petroleum Institute]], the "Public Nuisance Fairness Coalition", the Utility Air Regulatory Group (represented by [[Hunton & Williams]]), and the [[American Forest & Paper Association]].

On August 24, 2010 TVA announced that it wil retire 9 coal-fired generating units totalling about 1,000 megawatts of capacity at three locations beginning in fiscal year 2011: [[Shawnee Fossil Plant]] Unit 10 in Kentucky, [[John Sevier Fossil Plant]] Units 1 and 2 in Tennessee, and [[Widows Creek Fossil Plant]] Units 1-6 in Alabama, including six units at the [[Widows Creek Fossil Plant]]. In addition TVA stated that it will going to eliminate 200 jobs at these plants starting in 2011, but the workers will be placed in other positions within TVA. CEO [[Tom D. Kilgore]] said that TVA would replace the sidelined coal power with greater reliance on nuclear power and energy efficiency.<ref>[http://www.tva.com/news/releases/julsep10/coal_plants.html "TVA to idle 9 coal-fired units,"] Tennessee Valley Authority press release, August 24, 2010.</ref>

In September 2010, the Tennessee Valley Authority's Integrated Resource Plan suggest the company's future is likely to include more nuclear power production and less reliance on coal for the next two decades, including idling more coal fired units and adding nuclear units as early as 2018. A handful of strategies were considered, but the report indicated that TVA would be better positioned in the future if the utility diversified its power production and added more energy efficient and demand response programs. The public can comment on the plan through November 2010, and then TVA will submit the plan to the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] in March 2010 for a review of the environmental impact. The TVA board will approve plans in April.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9I97J300.htm "TVA's future plans suggest more nuclear, less coal"] Bloomberg BusinessWeek, September 16, 2010.</ref>