TVA’s Coal By Rail Plan Must Not Unduly Burden Gallatin Residents
June 28, 2005, The Tennessee Valley Authority’s recent proposal to ship coal by rail to its Gallatin power plant concerns me. TVA says it will save money by using rail to transport coal to the plant instead of river barges it currently uses, but the agency has not released specific documentation.
TVA is in a state of transition now, with only two board directors. Congress recently passed a law changing the makeup of the board from three full-time directors to nine part-time directors, who have yet to be appointed, and a full-time chief executive officer. It would be better if the entire nine-member board was in place and had a chance to weigh all the options before making this rather significant decision.
I want to know what the specific savings of using rail would be compared to using river barges, which don’t tie up traffic and pose a hazard to motorists having to cross a railroad track. At full capacity the steam plant uses about 13,000 tons of coal daily. Delivering that amount of coal by rail will require about five roundtrips through Gallatin each week. And the trains delivering that coal could have as many as 135 cars, which local public safety officials say could be a nightmare when responding to an emergency.
When TVA can lower costs and operate more efficiently, it benefits all ratepayers in the Tennessee Valley. TVA, however, also has a responsibility as a public entity to provide adequate justification to any changes in operation and to work with local communities that may be affected by those changes. TVA’s draft environmental analysis concludes that rail deliveries will result in an increase in automobile emissions from idling vehicles at rail crossings.
Increasing ozone pollution in Sumner County is not a good idea, especially when the federal government already considers the ozone level unsafe. The environmental and public-health costs of even a small increase in air pollution raises legitimate questions. In addition, counties that exceed safe ozone levels cannot recruit certain industries, and that severely limits economic-development and job-creation efforts.
I will be keeping the pressure on TVA to justify how this proposal will save ratepayer dollars. If there is a legitimate savings and a review by the full board gives the go-ahead to rail transportation of its coal, then TVA must work with residents and local leaders to minimize the impact on safety, the environment and the quality of life in Gallatin.
