Paradise Fossil Plant

Paradise Fossil Plant is located in western Kentucky on the Green River near the village of Paradise. The plant has three units, completed between 1963 and 1970, and three large natural-draft cooling towers to provide cooling water. In 1985 a barge-unloading facility was added so that coal could be delivered by barge as well as by rail and truck.

Balancing efficient power production with environmental protection

Electricity is produced at Paradise’s three 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.

Paradise generates 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, enough to supply more than 930,000 homes. By 2010, TVA will 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, all three units have wet limestone scrubbers. To reduce nitrogen oxides (NO_X) all the units have selective catalytic reduction systems installed. View more information about emissions at Paradise 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 Paradise.

Emissions Data

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