Cumberland Fossil Plant

Cumberland Fossil Plant is located northwest of Nashville on the shores of Barkley Reservoir on the Cumberland River. It produces more power than any other plant in the TVA system. In fiscal year 2004, its two generating units turned out over 18.5 million megawatt-hours, more than any other TVA fossil or nuclear plant. That represented almost 12 percent of TVA's total generation for the year.

Balancing efficient power production with environmental protection

Electricity is produced at Cumberland’s two coal-fired units by the process of heating water in a boiler to produce steam. Under extremely high pressure, the steam flows into a turbine that spins a generator to make electricity.

In 2001, Cumberland generated 18.97 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, the most ever generated by a TVA fossil plant in a single year. That’s enough to supply more than 1.2 million homes.

By 2010, TVA will have spent about $6 billion on emissions controls at its fossil-fuel plants to ensure that this power supply is generated as cleanly as possible, consistent with efficiency.

To reduce sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions, both units at Cumberland use wet limestone scrubbers. To reduce nitrogen oxides (NO_X), the units use low-NO_X burners as well as selective catalytic reduction systems, which were completed in 2004. View more information about emissions at Cumberland and the steps TVA is taking to control them.

 

Toxics Release Inventory

TVA is required to report annually to the Environmental Protection Agency on the amounts of chemicals released by its fossil-fuel plants. Check here for the latest data on Cumberland.

Emissions Data

TVA monitors other emissions at its fossil plants, including SO₂, NO_X, CO₂, and mercury. Check here for the latest data on Cumberland.