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The plant still relies on much of that original 70-year-old machinery but has added modern technology for the control room and with emissions control.

“I think we’re just taking the mission of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and carrying it into the 21st century,� said Donoho.

The TVA’s mission is focused on economic and social development of the Tennessee Valley region by providing affordable, reliable and clean energy. Energy created through TVA’s diverse energy systems such as nuclear, solar, hydro, gas and other advanced technologies, provides power through seven states and to 10 million customers.

According to research by the TVA, the region’s GDP is growing and outpacing the national average. In addition, the region’s population has grown faster than the U.S. overall.

“Last year on June 25, it was 99 degrees,� said Scott Fiedler, TVA Senior Media Specialist. “This year on the same date it was the same temperature, but we experienced 500 megawatts more of a load.�

Also, new data centers in the area and the use of Artificial Intelligence technology require large amounts of energy to operate, adding even more to the needed load.

“TVA has about 11,000 megawatts worth of requests,� said Fiedler.

This equates into enough power for six million homes or about one third of the TVA system.

Because energy keeps the economy moving and the need for more is increasing, over the next five years, TVA is investing in its plants, technology and power lines to meet the growing demand for energy. TVA is adding 6,200 megawatts of new generation, with 3,570 megawatts currently under construction — enough to power over two million homes.

And, despite belief that coal power plants would be closed in 10 years, TVA is exploring options to extend the life of coal burning units, including co-firing, which uses a combination of coal and natural gas fuel to generate electricity.

“Looking into the future, as we look at executive orders, all bets, or all chips, are on the table, and we’re still determining what we’re going to do with our coal fleet,� said Fiedler.

TVA’s Gallatin Gas Plant, which burns thousands of tons of coal each day, to generate enough energy to power to 571,000 homes, has four units each with an output of 240-280 megawatts. All four units are equipped with a scrubber control system and selective catalytic reduction system to reduce emissions. Coal has proven to be an inexpensive way to make power over the years and in a facility that has maintained its functionality in a managed and efficient way. The facility employs 150 employees.

The Gallatin Combustion Turbine Plant has serviced the region since 1975 and was among the most technically advanced units in the world. In 2024, a refurbishment project improved reliability and modernized the units. Today, there are eight units that are dual fuel running on natural gas or fuel oil.

No one can argue with the growth in and around the State of Tennessee. The relationship between energy demands and economic growth is clear and the availability of energy and its cost directly impacts economic output.

Even the country music of the area reflects the need for energy and the power it has to change things. The country music group, Alabama, sang a song about times in the south being hard, a family down on its luck moves to town, and “Poppa got a job with the TVA, we bought a washin’ machine and then a Chevrolet.�