Environment
Southern Environmental Law Center asks TVA for info on retirement of coal-fired plant
On behalf of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices, the Southern Environmental Law Center has asked TVA to prepare a supplemental environmental statement in order to address concerns with TVA’s draft environmental impact statement, which details the agency’s plans to retire the Cumberland Fossil Plant. The Cumberland Fossil Plant, which is […]
Maury County Superfund site eyed as destination for Middle Tennessee trash
As Middle Tennessee rapidly runs out of places to dump its trash, one company is eyeing a possible alternative in Maury County, just outside the city limits of Columbia, Tenn. The proposal by Trinity Business Group would bring a massive set of operations to the rural area: a tire shredding facility, construction and municipal waste […]
Environmental groups urge Memphis utility to slow down decisions on energy future
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy late last week urged the utility provider Memphis, Light, Gas and Water to allow the public more than 30 days to review the recently released list of energy companies that could potentially replace the Tennessee Valley Authority as Memphis’s main energy provider. The nonprofit group is among a growing […]
U.S. House members raise doubts about Manchin environmental permitting deal
More than 50 U.S. House members are objecting to a push to revise federal environmental permitting requirements for energy projects — part of a deal Democratic leaders struck with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III to win passage of their climate, health and taxes bill that passed last month. The House members signed onto a letter […]
‘You haven’t been a good community partner’: Memphis residents skeptical of TVA promises
The Tennessee Valley Authority promised Wednesday to treat Memphians better if it were kept as an energy provider for the next two decades, but community activists that have long battled for increased transparency and accountability say they doubt TVA will change its ways. As Memphis, Light, Gas and Water continues discussions on whether to leave […]
Memphis Gas, Light & Water likely to stick with TVA for energy
Memphis Gas, Light & Water is considering keeping the Tennessee Valley Authority as its energy provider for another 20 years, to the dismay of community activists critical of TVA’s treatment of low income communities of color. On Thursday morning, MLGW made its “grand reveal” of vendors to potentially replace an 80-year partnership with TVA, whose […]
Public comment: Environmental group leaders say TVA makes input difficult
While the Tennessee Valley Authority, a utility company that provides power to millions in Tennessee and other states, allows for public input into decisions, the process isn’t simple or transparent, say some regular attendees. Take, for instance, Tuesday’s public listening session: Representatives of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club say they were told they […]
2020 report claims new Hickman County wastewater plant unnecessary
A public utility’s proposal to discharge wastewater from heavily populated counties into rural Hickman County would be unnecessary if the utility district maintained its systems, according to an engineer who prepared an analysis of the Water Authority of Dickson County. A 2020 report by George Kurz analyzing the WADC’s annual treated wastewater flow showed that […]
Retiring state Sen. Mike Bell, leaving office early, joins Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Outgoing Republican state Sen. Mike Bell, who announced plans to retire from the Legislature last year, will assume a leadership position inside the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency beginning Aug. 31, the agency announced Wednesday. Bell will serve as the agency’s senior advisor for Legislative affairs and policy, interacting with lawmakers to promote the wildlife and […]
Biden signs into law Democrats’ wide-ranging climate change, health care and tax bill
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed his party’s signature climate, health care and tax package into law Tuesday, capping off more than a year of tumultuous negotiations that saw his original proposal to Congress slimmed down considerably. Flanked by a handful of Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and […]
Clean energy coalition urges TVA to take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act funds
Clean energy advocates are urging the Tennessee Valley Authority to use funds provided through the Inflation Reduction Act to deliver environmentally-friendly energy to Tennessee customers. The massive bill Congress passed Friday includes $370 billion for clean energy investments and listed TVA as an entity that is eligible to take advantage of clean energy credits and […]
U.S. House Democrats send sweeping climate, health and tax legislation to Biden
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Friday cleared Democrats’ long-sought climate, health care and tax package, sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature. The roughly $750 billion measure is much smaller than the $2 trillion reconciliation package the House originally sent to the Senate in November. The final product left out dozens of […]