# 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, eval uating how to best achieve a cost-effective, efficient, environmentally responsible and diversif ied 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 employ ees 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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