The context: The utility’s preliminary 2026 Integrated Resource Plan is sparking ratepayer pushback. Why? Compared with the utility’s 2025 plan, this year’s version tilts away from renewables and toward gas—TVA is eyeing 7-26 GW of new gas by 2040. The org is also delaying coal retirements back to 2039 (instead of President Joe Biden’s 2035 goal.)
The conflict: Some Tennessee residents oppose these plans. This week, Sierra Club announced it had submitted over 3.6K critical comments on behalf of its TN supporters. “TVA is propping up outdated coal plants and doubling down on an expensive and unreliable gas buildout while ignoring the overwhelming support for solar,” said Bonnie Swinford, Sierra Club’s Campaign Organizing Strategist, in a statement.
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
Thu, Jul 23
NEWS: TVA is betting on gas—and thousands of Tennesseans aren’t happy.
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