In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague interviews Gil Hough, Executive Director of the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA). The discussion offers a comprehensive look at the unique energy landscape within the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region, which spans Tennessee and parts of six other states.

Key points:

1. TVA Background: Created as part of the New Deal, TVA initially focused on flood management, electrification, and economic development. Its energy mix has evolved from hydroelectric to include coal, nuclear, natural gas, and increasingly, renewables.
2. Current Energy Landscape:
   • TVA's power generation includes hydro (6-10%), coal (being phased out by 2035), nuclear, natural gas, and growing solar and storage capacity.
   • About 1 GW of mostly large-scale solar currently operating, with 3 GW more under construction or in late-stage development.
   • TVA aims for 10 GW of solar by 2035.
3. Market Segments:
   • Utility-scale: Directly contracted with TVA
   • Generation flexibility: Allows local power companies to generate up to 5% of their load with renewables
   • Distributed generation: Challenging market, especially for residential and small commercial
   • Emerging community solar sector
4. Success Stories: Gil highlights projects like the Toyota 30 MW solar plant in Huntsville, Alabama, demonstrating the economic benefits of large-scale solar adoption.
5. Federal Funding Impact: Programs like Solar for All are accelerating distributed generation and benefiting low-income communities.
6. Challenges and Opportunities:
   • Length of interconnection queue
   • NIMBY pushback in some rural areas
   • Transition to FERC 2023 and new transmission planning processes
7. TenneSEIA's Role: Gil emphasizes TenneSEIA's position as a cooperative partner working with utilities, distinguishing it from more aggressive advocacy organizations.
8. Upcoming Event: TenneSEIA's annual conference on November 20-21 in Huntsville, Alabama, focusing on the TVA market, with about 500 attendees expected.

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Gil Hough
TenneSEIA

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