Colbert Fossil-Coal Retirements

Nov. 14, 2013 

Fact Sheet 

The TVA board of directors on Nov. 14, 2013, approved a resolution to retire all five units at its 

Colbert Fossil Plant in Tuscumbia, Ala. 

Background 

TVA has been looking at its overall fleet, evaluating how to best achieve a cost-effective, 

efficient, environmentally responsible and diversified portfolio. TVA is taking actions to improve 

operations and financial health with the overall goal of keeping rates low and reliability high, 

while balancing the other aspects of its mission. 

The Colbert decision considered risks and benefits related to demand for power, fuel costs, 

construction, anticipated future regulations and impact to our employees and communities in 

and around Tuscumbia. 

TVA had previously announced, as part of its agreement with EPA, that it would “idle” or remove 

from service Units 1-5 at Colbert. The board’s resolution is a change from “idled” to “retired” or 

closed. 

Retiring all five units at Colbert was the best long-term decision when all the benefits and risks 

were weighed and will help TVA continue to bring cleaner, reliable, low-cost energy to the 

people of the Tennessee Valley. 

Key points 

 Colbert has 154 employees. TVA recognizes that workers are impacted by these 

decisions. As we have done at John Sevier, Johnsonville and other sites across the 

Valley impacted by changes, our Human Resources and Labor Relations 

representatives will communicate with employees to provide timely information and work 

with those impacted. 

 North Alabama continues to be a key area for TVA generation with one other coal plant, 

eight gas-fired units, a nuclear plant, and three hydroelectric dams serving the people of 

the Tennessee Valley every day. 

 Coal will remain an important part of TVA’s overall generation mix for the foreseeable 

future. 

 Retiring all five units at Colbert will add about 1,184 megawatts of retired coal to our 

prior EPA commitment as we work to provide cleaner energy. 

 As a result of lower demand, more stringent regulations, and other factors, TVA now has 

either retired or announced pending retirements of 26 coal units totaling more than 5,600 

megawatts at its Colbert, John Sevier, Johnsonville, Paradise and Widow’s Creek fossil 

plants. 

 These actions will result in lower air emissions, less dependence on coal and more 

reliance on cleaner power sources and greater energy efficiency – all key components of 

TVA’s vision, Integrated Resource Plan and business strategy. 

Other information 

 Colbert Fossil Plant is located on TVA’s Pickwick Reservoir on the Tennessee River in 

Alabama. The plant is named after George Colbert, a chief of the Chickasaw Indian 

Nation in the early 19th century. 

 Construction at Colbert began in 1951 and was completed in 1965. The plant consumes 

about 8,900 tons of coal a day. 
 Colbert Fossil-Coal Retirements

Nov. 14, 2013 

Fact Sheet 

 Colbert Fossil Plant has five coal-fired generating units with a summer net capability of 

1,184 megawatts. The plant generates some 7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, 

enough to supply 480,000 homes. 

 TVA had initially announced Colbert Unit 5, by Dec. 31, 2015, and Colberts 1-4, by June 

30, 2016, would be removed from service, converted, controlled, or retired, with an 

option to be returned to service with emissions controls by 2019. These options are no 

longer in place. 

 TVA added eight combustion-turbine units at Colbert in the early 1970s. These units are 

designed to start quickly and typically are operated only during peak demand periods, 

with a summer net capability of 392 megawatts. They will continue to operate after 

retirement of the five coal units. 

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