TVA Colbert combustion turbine plant adds three turbines in expansion project
COLBERT CO., Ala. (WAFF) -The Tennessee Valley Authority said its additions at the Colbert Combustion Turbines are fully operational and producing cleaner energy.
The turbines opened at the end of July, but officials said the economic growth within the past three months has been immense. TVA President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Lyash said power systems like the Colbert Combustion Turbines are the gateway to a cleaner future. These three new turbines cost $500 million but they produce around 750 megawatts. That is enough to power around 400 thousand homes in the Tennessee Valley.
“So this is another example of investing capital, creating jobs, improving the reliability, and the clean energy that we all need,” Lyash said.
He said this addition is helping TVA reduce the strain on the power grid, especially during the hottest and coldest times of the year.
It is also helping TVA reduce its fossil fuel emissions. Lyash said natural gas burns cleaner than coal.
“We have retired about 65% of the coal that we once had on the system and the coal that we have is using less energy,” Lyash said.
Lyash said they are trying to completely reduce the use of coal for power by 2035. The Colbert Combustion Turbine Plant had eight turbines already built and powered on when these three were added. The new ones are a part of an expansion project that Lyash said will most likely continue in the future.
“We’re growing across the Tennessee Valley,” Lyash said. “We’re growing here in North Alabama. And that kind of growth requires a lot more reliable, affordable, resilient and clean electricity to fuel it. You’re in a great part of the transmissions system. There’s a good gas supply here. And so there is the possibility that down the road that we could add more of this type of unit or that we could add additional features to these units that would increase their capacity.”
Officials said there is still some work to be done on the turbine. There is still room for expansion as well.
Click Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!
Copyright 2023 WAFF. All rights reserved.
