Christine Ho, christine.ho@sierraclub.org
Knoxville, T.N. — Today, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is closing its public comment period on its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The IRP is the federal utility’s long-term energy plan that maps out how it plans to provide reliable energy for its ten million customers over the coming decades.
Throughout the comment period, Sierra Club members submitted over a thousand comments, calling on the country’s largest federal utility to lead by example and finalize an IRP that utilizes affordable, healthy, clean energy sources, rather than commit to more years of dirty, toxic fossil fuels.
TVA's 2025 IRP is an opportunity to choose clean energy over more fossil fuels, but its draft modeling relies heavily on gas—including potentially up to 19 GW of new gas—and falls short of the utility’s own clean energy commitments in many of the proposed scenarios. Since 2021, TVA has already proposed nearly 7 GW of new gas—marking the largest gas buildout in the country this decade. This year, the utility also implemented the steepest rate increase this decade, increasing costs for families and raising over $500 million in extra revenue for TVA. TVA’s budget indicates that a majority of that revenue will go toward new gas projects.
TVA’s board will vote to finalize the IRP as soon as Spring of 2025.
In response, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Organizing Strategist, Bonnie Swinford issued the following statement:
“At a time when families are feeling the squeeze and making tough choices at the kitchen table, TVA is raising prices for its customers in order to carry out its dirty gas agenda. We were disappointed to see that the initial draft IRP included such a large amount of gas—in addition to the massive gas buildout that is already underway—when we know that renewables are a much more affordable and reliable alternative.
“As the largest federal utility in the nation, TVA has a duty to lead by example and pave the way towards a sustainable future that is free of dirty fossil fuels. Rather than continuing to rely on expensive, dangerous fossil fuels that have failed our communities in the past, now is the time for TVA to enact a no-regrets strategy and transition to cheaper, cleaner renewable energy.”
Additional comments from Sierra Club members:
“TVA should set the example for the nation with a move to renewable energy sources and away from fossil fuels. Converting to natural gas will lock us in to continued burning of fossil fuels for decades to come. The people of Tennessee deserve better.” - R.M., Knoxville
“TVA ranks last in the Southeast in renewable energy initiatives and instead continues to advocate for the continuation of unhealthy fossil fuels polluting our environment and causing ill health for those who live here. The TVA needs to be a leader, not a slow follower, in transitioning to renewable energy resources. Please make this a priority in your Integrated Resource Plan! Thank you.” - R.W., Townsend
“I am a senior on a fixed income, and rising energy costs serve as a tax on my ability to live relatively free of economic anxiety.” - T.W., Knoxville
“As a recently retired physician, I trust science and scientists…Your position on the Board of the TVA is of extraordinary importance, not only for the utility's customers and ratepayers in the SE USA, but for the world actually…We desperately need TVA to LEAD this energy transition!” - T.B., Nashville
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.