Spend Earth Day with TVA

Last week I mentioned that MLGW's residential customers' electric usage is off the charts--about 4,000 kWh higher than the US average of 11,000 kWh.

TVA staff presented draft recommendations at its April public board meeting of the Renewable and Clean Energy Assessment and Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Plan, as part of its effort to help meet the Tennessee Valley’s growing demand for power through cleaner, more energy-efficient opportunities over the short and long-term, and reduce TVA’s environmental footprint.

This plan seeks to slow the current rate of power demand growth by providing short and long-term energy efficiency opportunities to residential, business and industrial consumer groups. In the short term, the plan proposes to potentially reduce the growth in peak demand by up to 1,400 megawatts – about the amount generated by one nuclear power unit – by the end of the 2012 fiscal year.

The Renewable and Clean Energy Assessment strives to add more renewable and clean energy resources to help reduce carbon emissions in the Tennessee Valley environment while minimizing costs and maintaining a reliable power supply. The assessment proposes to review TVA’s generation mix and identify a road map for pursuing additional renewal and clean energy supply located in the region.

TVA will conduct a series of stakeholder briefings throughout the region to receive additional public input on the energy efficiency and renewable energy proposals. The Memphis briefing will be held Tuesday, April 22 (6 to 8 p.m.) at The Bridges Building, 477 N. Fifth St.

You can also comment on the proposals on TVA's website.