TVA resumes renewable energy program

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced yesterday that it is resuming new enrollments in its Generation Partners pilot project to encourage renewable energy use across the TVA service territory.

TVA briefly held up new enrollments last week, citing the need “to adjust to overwhelming customer response.”

Qualifying solar, wind, biomass or hydroelectric projects of up to 200 kilowatts will be eligible for the Generation Partners incentives, which include a $1,000 payment to offset startup costs. In addition, TVA will buy 100 percent of the green power that participants produce, paying the retail rate, plus any fuel cost adjustment, plus a premium per kilowatt-hour, depending on the type of renewable energy produced.

“TVA launched Generation Partners as a pilot project, with periodic adjustments expected along the way, to encourage customer interest in small to medium-sized renewable energy projects, such as rooftop solar panels,” said John Trawick, senior vice president of commercial operations and pricing at TVA. “The response has exceeded all expectations, prompting us to expand and enhance the program to include additional projects and help support public interest in renewable energy.”

Trawick said that of the 264 projects approved or completed through Generation Partners to date, 260 are 200 kilowatts or under.

“TVA is honoring all 264 agreements, and we are launching a process to evaluate additional projects totaling more than 200 kilowatts each,” Trawick said. “Our goal is to encourage more widespread use of renewable energy resources across the TVA service territory.”