Oak Ridge Today

TVA releases draft power generation plan

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The Tennessee Valley Authority has released a draft version of a plan that evaluates its options to meet its power generation needs during the next 20 years, and it is accepting public comments.

Under development since early 2018, the draft of the Integrated Resource Plan was released for public review on Friday.

The Integrated Resource Plan is a power planning roadmap, TVA said in a press release Wednesday. It examines a variety of economic, regulatory, and market-driven scenarios and strategies—both within and outside TVA’s control—to help the public utility respond to changing energy demands while continuing to provide reliable power at the lowest possible cost, the press release said.

“The 2019 IRP emphasizes the importance of flexibility in our generation in response to the changing energy marketplace,” said Laura Campbell, TVA vice president of enterprise planning. “TVA looked at a wide range of possible futures, and flexibility is important in every case to ensure a reliable power supply.” [Read more…]

(For members) Retiring Bull Run, Paradise could save millions, more than $1 billion in ‘lifetime costs’

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The Tennessee Valley Authority's Bull Run Fossil Plant is pictured above in Claxton on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bull Run Fossil Plant is pictured above in Claxton on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority's Bull Run Fossil Plant is pictured above in Claxton on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The coal-burning Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton and Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 3 in Kentucky are not economical to operate, and retiring them will offer a savings of about $320 million and avoid more than $1 billion in capital costs, the Tennessee Valley Authority said Thursday.

The TVA Board of Directors voted 6-1 to close Paradise Unit 3 and unanimously agreed to close Bull Run during a meeting in Chattanooga on Thursday. Paradise could close by December 2020, and Bull Run is expected to close by December 2023.

The Bull Run and Paradise closures will be the first 1,700 megawatts of coal plant retirements of the 2,600 megawatts that could be retired through 2033 under a 2015 integrated resource plan, TVA President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Johnson told the board.

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Y-12 saves more than $500,000 per year, receives energy management award

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The Jack Case Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo courtesy NNSA)

The Jack Case Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo courtesy NNSA)

 

Award-winning energy efficiency upgrades at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge have saved more than $538,000 per year in energy expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Y-12 has used energy savings performance contracts to enhance its building infrastructure, DOE said. That included a major project in fiscal year 2016 to modernize 11,450 lighting fixtures in 123 facilities. The upgrades improved lighting conditions in more than 1.5 million square feet of work space, reduced electricity use by 36 billion Btu (British thermal units) per year, and saved more than $538,000 annually in energy costs, DOE said.

“Y-12’s innovative lighting design included de-lamping efforts to eliminate unneeded lighting, and used reflectors and optimized light levels to improve security, safety, and productivity,” DOE said. “The installation team also developed an innovative, streamlined lock-out/tag-out procedure—a critical safety step that normally can add significant amounts of time to a project of this size—and installed quick-connects on individual fixtures that allowed each fixture to be disconnected from power at the fixture location. These innovations enabled completion of the project two months ahead of schedule, with savings estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars due to reduced future preventive maintenance during re-lamping and ballast replacements.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge home owner shares energy efficiency success story

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MORE2 Logo“I have won the lottery!” That is an emotional response from one Oak Ridge homeowner who recently received a Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, home energy makeover.

Ronald Jackson, an Oak Ridge resident for nearly 50 years, said he “could not believe my luck in finding this program.” Jackson, who has lived in his home for 10 years, learned about the MORE2 program from a poster while visiting the Oak Ridge Library and decided it was worth a try to apply. His application was approved, and in recent months, his home has received a new HVAC unit as well as new duct work and insulation—all at no cost to Jackson.

“This program is so wonderful I want to tell everyone about it!” Jackson said in a press release.

The program responsible for his enthusiasm is called MORE2, and it is helping Oak Ridgers lower their home energy use and their electric bills, the press release said. [Read more…]

MORE2, a home energy efficiency program, raises income qualifications, has public meeting Tuesday

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MORE2 Logo

MORE2, the energy efficiency program that makes free upgrades to qualifying homes, has significantly raised its income qualifications, effective immediately, a press release said.

“If you make $122,670 or below, you may be eligible for upgrades,” the press release said.

Call (865) 375-4656 or visit MakeOREE.com to see if you qualify.

If you want to learn more about how to reduce energy usage in your home and apply for MORE2 help, you can attend this public meeting: [Read more…]

MORE2 helping Oak Ridger save money on utility bills

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holmes-new-hvac

New HVAC for Mike Holmes (Submitted photo)

 

Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, is making great changes for some Oak Ridge residents. “Saving money” was the response of a recent participant as the most important—and his favorite part—of MORE2.

Saving energy, which can lower utility bills, is one of the primary goals of MORE2, a program funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority that kicked off in April and began retrofitting the homes of qualified Oak Ridge residents with no-cost energy upgrades, such as new HVAC and water heating units.

“My favorite part of this program is saving money, followed by how professional everyone was,” said Mike Holmes, a truck driver who recently retired early due to medical challenges. [Read more…]

MORE2 energy efficiency program has public meeting on Thursday

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Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, will be hosting a public meeting for interested applicants Thursday, September 22, from 3-4 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

MORE2, funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority, kicked off in April and began retrofitting the homes of Oak Ridge residents with no-cost energy upgrades, such as new HVAC units and water heaters. [Read more…]

Free energy efficiency program has two workshops (one on Thursday), one public meeting

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The program that provides free energy efficiency upgrades to Oak Ridge homes has two more workshops scheduled—including one on Thursday, September 8—and one public meeting.

The program is called Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2. It kicked off in April and began retrofitting the homes of Oak Ridge residents with no-cost energy upgrades, such as new HVAC units and water heaters, a press release said.

It’s funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“My home is so refreshing now with my new HVAC unit, and I can’t wait to try out the heat in a few months!” said one Oak Ridge resident, Linda Connolly, reacting to recent MORE2 upgrades to her home. [Read more…]

Learn about MORE2, free energy-efficiency upgrades, in meetings tonight, Wednesday

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MORE2 Home Improvements Quilliams Heat Pump July 20 2016

Brittany Quilliams of Oak Ridge stands next to a new heat pump installed as part of the Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient program, which is funded by a $2.9 million Tennessee Valley Authority grant announced in September 2015. Quilliams’ home on Bunker Lane is one of the first three improved in Oak Ridge, and she shared her story with media and officials on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient is hosting public education meetings tonight and Wednesday for residents to learn about the program, which is also known as MORE2, and ways they might lower their energy use.

MORE2, funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority, kicked off in April and began retrofitting the homes of lower-income Oak Ridge residents with free energy-efficient upgrades, such as HVAC and water heating units, a press release said.

“In addition to retrofitting homes, MORE2 is working to empower people in the Oak Ridge community with energy efficiency education, ultimately leading to lower electric bills and a healthier environment,” the press release said. “Qualified homes must be at least 20 years old and have electric heat.” [Read more…]

Free energy efficiency program has educational classes starting Thursday

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MORE2 Logo

The Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, program will begin hosting classes that are aimed at educating homeowners on cost effective ways they can make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

The first class is scheduled from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 11, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Recreation Building—AB Room.

Attendees will get an overview of the MORE2 program and how to register as well as information on ways to lower energy consumption at zero cost to homeowners, a press release said. It will also cover “invisible” areas of the home that may need energy efficiency upgrades.

Those interested in applying can bring the following items with them to the class: [Read more…]

Anderson County receives $18,000 clean energy grant

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Bill Haslam during Presidential Visit at Pellissippi State

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is pictured above in January 2016. (File photo by Rob Welton)

Anderson County has received an $18,000 state clean energy grant.

The project will consist of an LED lighting upgrade at the county’s Fleet Service Facility, Highway Facility, and Dickens Building, according to information from the state. The existing lights currently consume 160,200 kilowatts annually, and the new lights are estimated to reduce that energy usage by 35 percent—or 56,064 kilowatts on an annual basis.

The project will use the latest technology in LED lighting, and it is estimated that it will reduce 38 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents from the atmosphere per year, the information said. Over the lifetime of the project, the county is estimated to save nearly $144,000.

This project has been a high priority for the county for the last three years. [Read more…]

Mother receives free home energy upgrades through city, TVA program; more spots available

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MORE2 Home Improvements Quilliams Heat Pump July 20 2016

Brittany Quilliams of Oak Ridge stands next to a new heat pump installed as part of the Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient program, which is funded by a $2.9 million Tennessee Valley Authority grant announced in September 2015. Quilliams’ home on Bunker Lane is one of the first three improved in Oak Ridge, and she shared her story with media and officials on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:15 a.m.

A single mother of two received free energy upgrades to her home through a program funded by a $2.9 million Tennessee Valley Authority grant, and more spots are available for qualified Oak Ridge residents interested in the free energy efficiency improvements.

During a ceremony at lunchtime Wednesday, Brittany Quilliams said the improvements to her home on Bunker Lane in west Oak Ridge include a heat pump, which replaced her old heating and air-conditioning system; ductwork under her house; insulation in her attic; and new vents at the back of her house. The updates were completed about a month-and-a-half ago.

Quilliams said she has noticed that her home, one of the first three to be upgraded in Oak Ridge, is cooling quicker. Though she’s only received one utility bill since the upgrades, she has noticed a change in the bill.

“I think more people should take advantage of it,” said Quilliams, referring to the energy efficiency program. “It saves me money. It’s a great program.”

The program is called Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2. There are 200 spots left in the program, which is available to residents who meet income requirements and live in homes that have electric heat and are at least 20 years old, among other qualifications. Participants can either own or rent the qualifying home, which must be within the city limits.

[Read more…]