The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Goes Green!

The beautiful lakes in Tennessee are great for boating, fishing and swimming. People flock to the lakes with their paddle boats, fun-toon boats and their mega-buck designer speed boats. Recreation was not part of the reason for the existence of lakes such as Norris, Douglas and Cherokee in East Tennessee. The main reason for the lakes was, and continues to be, the generation of power and flood control. If you visit one of the TVA lakes you will take note that the lake water is green at times. That green colored water has nothing to do with the TVA's new program - Green Power Switch.

The TVA Then
In 1933 FDR signed the TVA Act in order to lift the nation out of the Great Depression. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned corporation that was originally designed for flood control, power production, erosion control and economic development in the Tennessee Valley. The TVA taught farmers how to improve their yields in their over worked farms. They also helped to improve wildlife habitat on land and in the water. New jobs were created throughout the area. The TVA jurisdiction covers most of Tennessee; parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. Small sections of North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia are also in the TVA's jurisdiction. The TVA headquarters is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The electric power generated by the TVA is sold to electric cooperatives. Electric cooperatives are non-profit as opposed to privately owned power companies. The reason you want to live in an area with an electric cooperative is because the power is cheaper due to the buying power cooperatives have. Electric cooperatives established electric service where private companies did not want to go - rural areas. I don't know about the other states, but the majority of homes in Tennessee are total electric. We just converted our propane heating system to an electric heat pump because it will be cheaper to operate and we will recoup the cost of the equipment in two years.

Unfortunately, producing electric power does not happen without harm to the environment in one shape or form. Coal has many potentially harmful aspects and people are afraid of the long term effects and problems associated with nuclear power. However, things are changing, yes they are. I would like to tell you about the new program called - Green Power Switch.

The TVA now and into the future
We are going green. The TVA has come up with a new program called "Green Power Switch". The purpose is to harness the natural power of the wind, the sun and the earth to create energy sources. TVA and local public power companies came up with a plan to bring green power to the consumers. If you live in any of the above states your power company may be a participant in the Green Power Switch program. Check their website (here) for the list of participating power companies. The power companies will work with the environmental community to give us electricity that's generated by renewable resources such as solar, wind, and methane gas.

When I say 'give' I don't mean that literally. There is a charge over and above what you already pay the electric company each month. Green power is sold in 150 kilowatt hour blocks. A block is equivalent to around 12 percent of the energy used in a typical home in a month. Each block costs $4 to the end user - the consumer. Consumers may buy as many blocks as they like. Residential consumers participating in green power programs pay anywhere from $2 to $10 extra per month for green power in other parts of the country. Green Power Switch is also being marketed to commercial and industrial consumers.

Traditional energy sources: coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power can have a negative impact on the environment, whereas renewable resources create less waste and pollution. An investment of two blocks for an additional $8 per month on your power bill buys enough Green Power to equal the environmental benefits of planting an acre of trees in the Tennessee Valley - and that is substantial.

I am sure you wonder why it makes sense to pay for something the TVA will get for free like air and sun. I thought the same thing. It is the technology to grab that power that is expensive. Long term they think that once this is totally in place it may lower the electric bills for everyone in the cooperatives. The TVA has already built wind powered turbines which are located on Buffalo Mountain in Anderson County, Tennessee. Participating public power companies have solar generators located in their service areas. Methane gas is providing power at Allen Fossil Plant in Memphis.

Sounds like a win-win situation. For an outlay of a minimum of $48 a year you can invest in the future - your kids' futures and your grandkids' futures. Isn't that worth it to you? It's something we can all do, it's not that expensive. You don't have to do anything hard, or leave home to participate. Fill out the on-line form, that's it, that's all you need to do. If your electric company has the Green Power Switch program please sign up today. Then make sure that your friends, family and neighbors know about this program. If you live in Tennessee join me in jumping on the Green Power Switch bandwagon. It's very easy to do, go to the link here and sign up...that's it, that's all you have to do.

I was made aware of this by Country Radio US101, Chattanooga, TN. They have been running spots on this and they said to check out - Green Power Switch. I did, now it's up to you. Let's all turn our attention to the Green Power Switch and help save the future. Thank you for participating.

Sources:
Personal experience
Country US101 Radio, Chattanooga
TVA.com
Wikipedia