TVA completes purchase of 700MW combined cycle gas plant in Mississippi

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has purchased a 700MW combined cycle gas plant owned by Quantum Choctaw Power, an affiliate of Quantum Utility Generation. With this, the TVA has expanded its low-emission, natural gas generation fleet. The power plant is the sixth combined cycle gas facility TVA has built or purchased since 2007, which will be renamed Ackerman Combined Cycle Plant. Two more facilities are under construction.

Located in Ackerman, Mississippi, the plant uses two gas turbines and one steam turbine to produce energy. TVA has purchased electricity from the plant since 2008. Located in TVA’s service area and already connected to the TVA grid, the Ackerman plant will provide low-cost, reliable power to the Mississippi region.

The plant also will provide greater transmission flexibility and system reliability as TVA retires older, coal-burning units. However, this will not directly result in the retirement of any coal-fired units beyond what already is scheduled in TVA’s five-year asset plan.

The purchase will be handled through traditional forms of financing. The acquisition includes flexibility for future ownership by Seven States Power Corp., a member-owned generation and transmission cooperative formed by local power companies served by TVA.