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TVA Eyes Closing Power Units at Shawnee Fossil Plant, Other Coal Facilities

TVA

TVA’s Shawnee Fossil Plant faces an uncertain future as the Knoxville-based utility company begins retiring coal-powered energy plants.

Yesterday, as part of an ongoing effort to clean up non-renewable energy stations, TVA announced plans to retire 18 of 59 fossil units region-wide by 2018.

At Shawnee, where nine units are coal-based, two units are being looked at for possible closure.

Media Relations Coordinator Mike Bradley said some jobs associated with closed units will be cut, but, he said, TVA has developed a strategy for displaced employees.

“Our plans include currently offering a voluntary reduction enforced retirement option as well as assistance in transferring employees if they wish to continue working at TVA,” he said.

Bradley said other options for the units include sitting them idle, installing emissions control devices or converting the units to run on bio-fuels. A final decision on the Shawnee Plant units must be made by 2017.

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