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US's largest public utility ignores warnings in moving forward with new natural gas plant

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US's largest public utility ignores warnings in moving forward with new natural gas plant
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US's largest public utility ignores warnings in moving forward with new natural gas plant

2024-05-09 06:47 Last Updated At:06:51

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. The Tennessee Valley Authority announced in April that it would replace the aging coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant with gas amid growing calls for the agency's new board of directors to invest in renewables.

The board, with six of nine members appointed by President Biden, is expected to meet on Thursday in Nashville, a day after a planned protest by a coalition of environmental groups demanding the utility stop investing in fossil fuels.

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FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, photo, the Kingston Fossil Plant stands near a waterway in Kingston, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn’t comply with federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency asked the Tennessee Valley Authority in a March 25, 2024 letter to redo several aspects of its environmental impact statement for converting the coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. The Tennessee Valley Authority announced in April that it would replace the aging coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant with gas amid growing calls for the agency's new board of directors to invest in renewables.

Cheatham County resident Angela Moore, center, speaks against a proposed natural gas plant in her area during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Cheatham County resident Angela Moore, center, speaks against a proposed natural gas plant in her area during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors Chairman Joe Ritch listens during a public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors Chairman Joe Ritch listens during a public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors member Wade White listens to members of the public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors member Wade White listens to members of the public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nanette Mahler speaks in opposition of a proposed natural gas plant planned for Cheatham County during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nanette Mahler speaks in opposition of a proposed natural gas plant planned for Cheatham County during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Paul Klein speaks during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Paul Klein speaks during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority Jeff Lyash listens during a board of directors meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority Jeff Lyash listens during a board of directors meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Decommissioning the Kingston plant, the site of a massive 2008 coal ash spill, is part of TVA's overall plan to reduce its reliance on coal. In analyzing alternatives to replace the plant, the utility considered either a new 1,500-megawatt gas plant or 1,500 megawatts of solar combined with 2,200 megawatts of battery storage. TVA concluded that a 2027 deadline for retiring the current plant does not give it enough time to develop the renewables alternative.

The Environmental Protection Agency asked the utility in a March 25 letter to redo several aspects of its analysis, citing “numerous” concerns with the plan to install new gas turbines. Among other things, the EPA accused the utility of defining the Kingston project so narrowly that only its predetermined choice of a new gas plant would meet the parameters, making the evaluation process a “foreordained formality.” EPA said the utility did not adequately explain the need for the 2027 closure or look at possible alternatives.

The EPA said the environmental review does not meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies like the Tennessee Valley Authority to assess the environmental impact of proposed actions before making a decision.

TVA declined to follow the Environmental Protection Agency's suggestion for a do-over. It decided in April to forge ahead with gas — continuing to follow a plan of action that the EPA says fails to consider recent changes in the energy sector, including falling prices for renewables, billions of federal dollars for clean energy projects, and ever stricter environmental regulations. The corporation remains off track to meet the Biden administration's goal of eliminating carbon pollution from power plants by 2035 to try to limit the effects of climate change.

The utility said in a statement that “we met with EPA following the letter and addressed their concerns.” EPA, meanwhile, maintained in an email to The Associated Press that its request that TVA revise its environmental impact statement still stands.

Dennis Wamsted, an energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said even with TVA's 2027 deadline, “They could build twice the amount of solar that they say they need and twice the amount of battery storage they say they need.”

Other utilities are taking advantage of price drops, technical improvements and government incentives to build out solar, including in Texas and Florida.

By 2030, Florida Power and Light expects solar to account for close to 40% of its generation, Wamsted said.

“This is a big utility with, you know, the same daily responsibilities as TVA,” he said. “And they are building out solar as fast as they can.”

TVA provides power to 10 million people across seven Southern states. Florida Power and Light serves over 12 million people in that state.

Even if solar doesn't produce power 24 hours per day, the amount of energy it does produce is knowable and can be planned for, Wamsted said. It can also be paired with batteries that store excess energy during the day to release back to the grid at night. That is already happening on a large scale in California where batteries are providing more than 20% of the power in the system on many evenings, he said.

In Wamsted's view, many utilities resist the transition to renewables primarily because they are unfamiliar.

He points to an area called the Southwest Power Pool that runs from Oklahoma to Canada and now sees days where 60% or 70% of the system is wind-powered. In the late 2000s, he spoke to grid operators there who were afraid to go above 5% or 10% because they had never done it before, he said.

TVA's Kingston project is not its first clash with the EPA over gas. The environmental regulator made many of the same criticisms a year ago when the utility decided to build a new 1,450-megawatt natural gas plant at its coal-burning Cumberland Fossil Plant. The Sierra Club and other groups are suing over that decision as well as an earlier one to install gas turbines at a retired coal plant in New Johnsonville. Both lawsuits claim that TVA's environmental reviews are perfunctory, in violation of the law — similar to the EPA's criticism of the Kingston plant.

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, of Massachusetts, a frequent TVA critic, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the corporation should listen to the EPA.

“The National Environmental Policy Act isn’t optional — it’s the bedrock of our environmental protection and community engagement laws,” he said.

Although TVA has not embraced renewables, the utility still says a majority of its energy is carbon-free because 42% comes from nuclear and another 9% is from hydropower. Purchased wind and solar make up another 4% of its energy portfolio. The utility currently produces 1 megawatt of its own solar and has 20 megawatts of battery storage. The Kingston project includes another 3-4 megawatts of solar and 100 megawatts of battery storage. TVA estimates that the new gas plant will produce 1.68 million tons (1.52 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases a year, noting that that is a steep decline from Kingston's current emissions.

Nationally, coal provided about 16% of U.S. electricity last year, down from about 45% in 2010. Natural gas provides about 43% of U.S. electricity, with the remainder from nuclear energy and renewables such as wind, solar and hydropower.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has said it intends to build 10,000 megawatts of solar by 2035. Wamsted contends that is too far in the future.

“It should be, ‘We’re going to build as much solar as we possibly can now,’ because it’s now that we really need to worry about,” he said. “We don’t need to worry about 10 years from now or 15 years from now.”

Associated Press writer Jonathan Mattise contributed to this report.

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, photo, the Kingston Fossil Plant stands near a waterway in Kingston, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn’t comply with federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency asked the Tennessee Valley Authority in a March 25, 2024 letter to redo several aspects of its environmental impact statement for converting the coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, photo, the Kingston Fossil Plant stands near a waterway in Kingston, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn’t comply with federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency asked the Tennessee Valley Authority in a March 25, 2024 letter to redo several aspects of its environmental impact statement for converting the coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Cheatham County resident Angela Moore, center, speaks against a proposed natural gas plant in her area during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Cheatham County resident Angela Moore, center, speaks against a proposed natural gas plant in her area during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors Chairman Joe Ritch listens during a public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors Chairman Joe Ritch listens during a public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors member Wade White listens to members of the public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors member Wade White listens to members of the public meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nanette Mahler speaks in opposition of a proposed natural gas plant planned for Cheatham County during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nanette Mahler speaks in opposition of a proposed natural gas plant planned for Cheatham County during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Paul Klein speaks during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Paul Klein speaks during a Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listening session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Members of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors listen to members of the public during a meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority Jeff Lyash listens during a board of directors meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority Jeff Lyash listens during a board of directors meeting, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

MIAMI (AP) — Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor each drove in two runs in a four-run first inning, star closer Edwin Díaz was not used in a save situation and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Sunday for just their second win in seven games.

Brandon Nimmo homered and Francisco Lindor singled twice following a 1-for-27 skid as the Mets rebounded from blowing a four-run, ninth-inning lead on Saturday and avoided a three-game sweep. New York stopped Miami’s four-game winning streak.

“You’re not defined by what you do the day before. You’re defined by how you get up from adversity,” Lindor said. “We wanted this one for sure. I think it’s important to win after a tough loss like that.”

Sean Manaea (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Sean Reid-Foley and Jake Diekman pitched an inning each, and Reed Garrett got his second save by allowing one hit over two innings with four strikeouts in a 34-pitch outing.

Díaz has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings. He has blown three of his last four save chances.

“We all believe in him. We all know he’s going to be back,” Garrett said. “Whenever my name’s called, I’ll pitch, but I know as a collective unit we all believe in Edwin and we know what he can do.”

New York (21-25) had dropped five games under .500 on Saturday for the first time since an 0-5 start.

“Not an easy weekend, not the way we expected, but we just have to continue to move forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Today was a huge win for us.”

With New York ahead 4-3, Nimmo hit a two-run homer off Anthony Bender in a three-run ninth that included Brett Baty’s RBI single.

“I was just looking for a good pitch in the middle of the plate to drive,” Nimmo said. “I was able to hit that ball — good launch angle — and hit it hard. Found its way out of the ballpark.”

Nimmo returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games because of a stomach illness.

“I’m coming around,” Nimmo said. “It’s been a little bit of a journey the last three days to get over the sickness. Right now, I’m just trying to get some appetite back. I’m definitely not at 100%. Just trying to battle through it and glad that I was able to help out there at the end and solidify the win.”

Dane Myers hit a two-run homer in the second, and Christian Bethancourt had a solo drive in the seventh against DIekman.

Sixto Sánchez (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He gave up Taylor’s two-out double in the first and Bader’s single.

“He was obviously better second through the fourth inning but he put us in a hole early,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “At this level it’s hard to come back from four runs every single time. He’s not giving his teammates a chance to win.”

Miami recalled right-handed reliever Emmanuel Ramirez from Jacksonville and optioned right-handed reliever Anthony Maldonado to the Triple-A farm team.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: DH J.D. Martinez (flu symptoms) didn’t play but was available to pinch hit. Mendoza said Martinez played through the illness the prior two days.

Marlins: INF Tim Anderson (lower back tightness) homered and had three singles in five at-bats during a rehab game with Jacksonville on Saturday, then went 0 for 4 with a walk on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (0-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland on Monday. RHP Ben Lively (2-2, 3.06) will start for the Guardians.

Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.81) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Monday. The Brewers will go with RHP Joe Ross (2-4, 4.61).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Sean Manaea delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Sean Manaea delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) and Francisco Lindor (12) congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Tyrone Taylor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) and Francisco Lindor (12) congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Tyrone Taylor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader is unable to catch a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell for a double, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader is unable to catch a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell for a double, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Marlins third base Emmanuel Rivera, right, tags out New York Mets' Harrison Bader as he slides into third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Marlins third base Emmanuel Rivera, right, tags out New York Mets' Harrison Bader as he slides into third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) catches a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell as both he and left fielder Tyrone Taylor (15) vie for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) catches a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell as both he and left fielder Tyrone Taylor (15) vie for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett, right, and catcher Omar Narvaez celebrate after the Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3, during a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett, right, and catcher Omar Narvaez celebrate after the Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3, during a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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