TVA

Jack Betts details the fight against cross-state pollution:

That agreement essentially gave North Carolina more than it would have won under Thornburg's ruling. It requires TVA to close at least 18 old coal-fired units at three plants, reducing harmful emissions significantly. It commits TVA to spending from $3 to $5 billion in the cleanup process. It directs TVA to either clean up or close down the four plants closest to North Carolina, and requires TVA to pay $11.2 million to this state over five years for energy efficiency initiatives.

This was also a victory for Tennessee, although it may not be apparent to them right now. Good job, Roy.

Rising water temperatures force shutdowns:

The Tennessee Valley Authority is losing tens of millions of dollars in power generation at its largest nuclear plant to avoid overheating the Tennessee River in Alabama.

Unless the summer cools down, TVA could lose more, pushing up fuel costs and consumer electric bills even after seven straight monthly increases.

I have a feeling these Summer shutdowns will only get worse in the years to come.

A victory for less-clean smokestacks:

The act also directed state agencies to “use all available resources and means, including ... litigation to make other states and entities, including the Tennessee Valley Authority,” achieve comparable reductions in harmful emissions.

U.S. District Court Judge Lacy Thornburg, a North Carolinian, last year ruled in the state’s favor. But a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously overruled Thornburg last week.

(The three judges hail from Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, underscoring the fact that North Carolina remains under-represented on this court as nominees James Wynn and Albert Diaz are stalled during their U.S. Senate confirmation proceedings.)

Whatever brought this about, it's a good move:

The Tennessee Valley Authority has ended a short moratorium on new enrollments in its Generation Partners program that encourages solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric projects.

A TVA statement Wednesday announced that enrollments are again being accepted for renewable energy projects of up to 200 kilowatts, with $1,000 payments provided to offset startup costs. TVA will also buy 100 percent of the green power that is produced and will pay the retail rate, plus any fuel cost adjustment, plus a premium per kilowatt-hour.

Congressional Quarterly is reporting that the Tennessee Valley Authority Inspector General's report is headed to the House ethics committee and Rep. Heath Shuler's conduct and that of his representatives is in question.

The inspector general of the Tennessee Valley Authority has forwarded to the House ethics committee a report saying that Rep. Heath Shuler contributed to the appearance of preferential treatment when he was an investor in a development that sought water access from the authority.

The inspector general drew no conclusions, however, about whether Shuler violated House ethics rules.

The Associated Press is reporting that Judge Lacy Thornburg has ordered the TVA to install pollution controls at the four coal-fired power plants closest to the North Carolina border.

In a move to protect the environment of our beautiful North Carolina mountains, Attorney General Cooper filed suit against the Tennessee Valley Authority to require they clean up their act. The TVA refused. Judge Thornburg sided with the North Carolina mountains.