Protest TVA Power Line
Issues
The full report and addendum submitted to TVA is now online.
Conservation: Do We Need More Power Lines?
Tennesseans use more electric power per residence than citizens in any other state. TVA encourages high electric consumption through many of its policies. These policies are bad for the environment - they contribute to global warming and the degradation of our beautiful Tennessee environment that attracts tourists. It makes more sense to use the funds that will be needed to build power lines and power plants in our region to stimulate conservation. Conservation will be good for the local economy, good for the local environment, and good for the global environment by reducing the need for power plants that contribute to global warming. Some estimates indicate that demand for electric power could be essentially flat if appropriate conservation measures were adequately supported. TVA has already been criticized for not doing enough to promote conservation by the GAO.
The UCEMC and TVA have not been willing to release the studies they cite as evidence of the need for more power lines. Without public access and scrutiny it is impossible to determine if the projections are based on faulty assumptions. Citizens have a right to know and scrutinize how public institutions are making decisions that directly impact our family and homes. The foundation of democracy ultimately rests on the ability of the public and the press to scrutinize government actions and decision making.
Distributed Power Generation
The need for new transmission lines is based on a model of power generation that relies on a few large power plants to supply electricity for many residents across a large area. This model requires huge investments in power plants and transmission lines. Indeed, "there is a trend towards what is known as 'distributed generation'. Distributed generation refers to the placement of individual, smaller sized electric generation units at residential, commercial, and industrial sites of use." Until this year TVA provided substantial discounts in electric rates to large electricity users who agreed to have their power interrupted during peak use times. Institutions and businesses could purchase backup generators to provide their own power during peak power demand and not only pay for the generators and fuel, but also save money with the substantial savings in electricity costs. When used effectively, this model saves everyone money because TVA does not have to build excess power production and transmission facilities that will only be used during peak demand periods. This is a real solution.
Distributed power generators—small, modular electricity generators sited close to customer loads—offer advantages that large-scale, capital-intensive, central-station power plants cannot provide.By siting smaller, more fuel-flexible systems near energy consumers, distributed generation avoids transmission and distribution power losses and provides a choice of energy systems to the utility customer. Many distributed power systems produce so little noise or emissions that they can be located inside, or immediately adjacent to, the buildings where the power is needed. This greatly simplifies the problems of bringing power to expanding commercial, residential, and industrial areas.
Distributed energy systems offer reliability for U.S. businesses and consumers who need dependable, high-quality power to run sensitive digital equipment and can provide alternative, less-expensive power sources during peak price periods.
Distributed power generation technologies use a variety of fuels, including natural gas, diesel, biomass-derived fuels, fuel oil, propane, hydrogen, sunlight, and wind. U.S. Department of Energy Website (2006)
TVA needs to reinstate favorable interruptible power rates that encourage distributed power generation and greatly reduce the need for additional power plants and transmission lines to handle peak demand. Providing these incentives to local businesses and institutions to help generate some of their own power during peak demand would be good for local business, create jobs, and be good for the environment. The concept of using distributed resources is in many ways analogous to the model that the world-wide web or internet uses.
The governor of Tennessee has recently outlined a major initiative to develop ethanol production in the State based on switchgrass. Tennesseans could use locally grown and refined fuel to power a network of distributed power generation (another article about alternative energy)
More on Green Power Generation
You would think that TVA would be leading the way in promoting the use of distributed green power generation (solar & wind) given all the publicity they give to their Green Power Switch Program. In fact, the percent of TVA power production derived from green power is negligible (0.01% in their 2006 annual report). In contrast, Germany generates 11.9% of its power from green sources. Is TVA really supporting this program or is this just hype?
There is no reason that TVA could not set up solar power generator panels in the Algood Walmart parking lot and elsewhere as they have in Dollywood to offset the need for new transmission lines.
Environmental Damage
No one wants high voltage power lines in their own backyard. There is an obvious negative impact on property value. Although TVA might try to trivialize these effects - talk to your local real estate agent to get an expert opinion. We doubt that you will find an agent that thinks there is no negative impact on property value. Our two UCEMC representatives are both connected to the real estate business and had/have input into these proposed plans as board members.
Aside from the obvious negative impact on aesthetics and property value, the proposed project on Buck Mountain will destroy a large amount of forest and damage a fairly large mini-eco system that supports a wide range of wildlife that use the forest and caves for habitat. These environments are becoming harder to find and protect around Cookeville. Do we really want to destroy a beautiful natural area that is minutes from downtown Cookeville?
Damage to Historical Sites
The earliest known inhabitants of North America during the Paleoindian period around 10,000 BC are thought to have used the cliffs, bluffs and caves of the Highland Rim and Upper Cumberland Plateau. Numerous Native American artifacts have been found in the Buck Mountain area impacted by the proposed power line. All experts agree that insufficient archeological work has been done to adequately explore this area. This project could permanently damage these ruins--losing our history forever.
Other Issues
The proposed power line on Buck Mountain would interfere with two licensed radio towers already in existence.
Although not a common practice, high voltage power lines can be installed underground.
The health effects of high voltage power lines are still not clear. Some studies have found evidence of increased health risk from above ground high voltage power lines, such as childhood Leukemia. We wonder how many of the studies that do not indicate adverse health effects were funded by power companies.
The installation of high power transmission lines and the maintenance of the right-away through the use of herbicides in an area densely covered with caves and sinkholes on Buck Mountain could impact underground wells that serve as the main source of drinking water for many residents in the Poplar Grove area. The Indiana Forestry Department notes that herbicides should not be applied near water courses, sinkholes, springs, or seeps.
Buck Mountain Community Organization
