Evaluation of the TVA 2011 Integrated Resource Plan
Synapse evaluated the opportunity to use cost-effective energy efficiency to offset the costs of maintaining some of TVA’s least-economic coal units. Our study found that energy efficiency programs run at an achievable level would reduce air pollution, cut customers’ rates over the long term, and eliminate the need to operate at least one TVA coal plant in the next three years (i.e., in advance of EPA deadlines). Replacing the 1225 MW Gallatin coal plant, for instance, could save at least $2.7 billion by 2032, based on TVA’s own conservative assumptions about the cost of energy efficiency, and cut residential ratepayer bills by at least $2.00 per month for several decades. Synapse also provided in-depth comment on the TVA Environmental Assessment for environmental retrofits, based largely on the 2011 IRP.