Tennessee: TVA Strategic Plan Public Hearings

The present public comment meetings on TVA’s strategic plan demonstrates the lack of citizen input into TVA: two weeks notice for public meetings on an issue that has not received any media coverage. The four days of hearing needs to be replaced with four months of citizen and Valley involvement in determining its energy future for the next 10 years. This process needs to include citizen education about the issues and options.

Nashville- Monday, April 23, 6pm Cool Springs
Knoxville – Monday, April 23 6pm: Knoxville Convention Center
Johnson City - Tuesday, April 24, 6 p.m., Doubletree Hotel
Chattanooga - Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m., Chattanooga Convention Ctr. or Marriott
Memphis - Tuesday, May 1, 6 p.m., The Bridges Building


Speaking Points for TVA’s Regional Briefings on its Strategic Plan
www.tva.com/stratplan - draft TVA Strategic Plan and online comment form

-Reduce the need for electricity by at least 2% each year until TVA is the most energy efficient region of the U.S.
-Development of a transparent process to identify the true costs and benefits of power generation and conservation / efficiency.
-Learn from what other utilities are doing.
-Repeat what TVA did in the late 1970s and early 1980s to reduce the energy demand so dramatically that TVA cancelled construction of eight n-plants.
-Set energy conservation and efficiency goals to achieve the electricity demand reduction through encouraging energy efficiency in building design, landuse, efficient technologies, and expanded cogeneration)
-Set renewable energy goals for 2% annual growth to displace the demand for electricity. (Green Power Switch)
-Expand TVA’s comprehensive consumer education.
-Offer incentives to residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors to reduce energy use. Sell energy efficiency as money saved.
-Use smart technologies Valley-wide to encourage consumers to reduce energy consumption during peak periods.
-Alter the rate structure to encourage less consumption.
-Focus on reduction of electricity transmission losses.
-Comprehensive process for citizen involvement in TVA planning and decision-making and increased TVA accountability to ratepayers
-Develop a planning process that involves citizens in determining the cost-benefit of proposed policies, programs, and infrastructure projects.