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* The company is facing millions of dollars in costs from In 2009, the coal ash spill at [[Kingston Fossil PlantNational Association of Manufacturers]] joined in Tennessee. TVA has already spent $68 million on cleanup, and it estimates the final cost could surpass $800 million, not including fines and lawsuits. The Associated Press reported on April 11 that TVA had already spent over $20 million purchasing 71 properties contaminated by the coal-ash spill and is negotiating to buy more.<ref>an [http://www.nytimesnam.comorg/2009~/04media/123D99146ECAAE44209911A91E92AACCC7/us/12spillNorth_Carolina_v_TVA.html?ref=global-home "Utility Rejects Many Requests as It Buys Land Tainted by Tennessee Coal-Ash Spill,"pdf amicus brief] Associated Press, April 11, 2009.</ref> * In January 2009, a federal judge ruled that supporting the TVA is required to speed up its efforts to reduce emissions from four coal plants in North Carolinawith the [[U. The company estimates that completing the necessary smokestack improvements by the 2014 deadline will cost $1S.8 billionChamber of Commerce]], which is about $1 billion higher than originally planned. * TVA has seen a 5 percent decline in power sales stemming from the recession[[American Petroleum Institute]], predominantly with its industrial customers. * The company's retirement fund has lost $3 billion in the stock market. TVA invested $81 million in "Public Nuisance Fairness Coalition", the fund in 2008, but says it may need to invest an additional $300 million next year. Although falling fuel prices have enabled TVA to cut much of a 20 percent rate increase that took effect in October 2008Utility Air Regulatory Group (represented by [[Hunton & Williams]]), and the company is considering another increase in October 2009 to mitigate these expenses[[American Forest & Paper Association]]. TVA will set its fiscal 2010 budget and rate changes in August.<ref name="pres"/>
SW: →TVA likely to raise rates to cover unexpected expenses: - add section
According to the report, the electric power industry is the leading source of chromium and chromium compounds released into the environment, representing 24 percent of releases by all industries in 2009.<Ref name="blind spot"/>
==July 2010: TVA likely to raise rates to cover unexpected expensesplants declared public nuisance, then reversed==In April 2009On July 26, 2010, a federal appeals court reversed a judge's ruling requiring prompt installation of upgraded emission controls at four TVA Chairman Bill Sansom said coal-fired power plants, three in Tennessee and one in Alabama. U.S. District Judge Lacy Thornburg had ordered the company is facing 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 "upward pressurecarefully created" on its rates, stemming from several challenges:[[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 name="pres">[http://wwwblog.googleal.com/hostednewsspotnews/ap2010/article07/ALeqM5jgkVTROMGlTT1PK6ZhQjLRfederal_appeals_court_blocks_r.html "Federal appeals court blocks ruling for fast-X0V_QD97B9C480 "track emission controls at 4 TVA sees growing 'pressure' for higher rates,coal-fired plants"] Associated Pressal.com, April 4July 26, 20092010.</ref>
==Citizen protest==
