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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Valley Authority released a statement in response to President Donald Trump’s coal executive orders.
On Tuesday, Trump signed a four executive orders to boost coal production. The orders allow some coal-based power plants that were set to retire continue operating. Some environmental groups criticized the orders due to pollution concerns.
In their statement, the TVA said they were carefully reviewing the orders to see how they might apply to and benefit the region. They wrote that their coal plants have been critical in meeting energy demands and that they will continue investing in their coal fleet.
However, a page on their website still says they plan to retire their entire coal fleet by 2035. The TVA currently operates four coal plants, according to their website, but the Kingston plant is in the process of being converted to natural gas and solar generation. It will also provide battery storage.
Finally, in the statement, the organization said it looked forward to working with the administration “to unleash American energy.”
Trump recently fired two TVA board members after Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty criticized the organization’s leadership. Because of this, the board no longer has a quorum, without which they no longer have the authority to “direct TVA into new areas of activity, to embark on new programs, or to change TVA’s existing direction.”