Tennessee Valley Authority is officially moving forward with building a gas-powered combustion turbine energy plant near Caledonia.
The project will be located on a TVA-owned 145-acre property on Caldwell Road, south of Caledonia, which is known as the New Caledonia Site. Once it’s completed, the new facility will add about 500 megawatts to the grid, according to a Friday press release.
“We are adding the New Caledonia site to our portfolio to enable ongoing and future growth, focusing on more efficient energy generation while maintaining low rates and reliable power for people we are privileged to serve,” Amy Tate, Mississippi regional executive for TVA, said in the release.
TVA Senior Strategic Communicator Julia Wise told The Dispatch Friday that local residents may have seen work going on to clear the land as early as yesterday. The plant is anticipated to be up and running by June 2028, she said.
According to TVA’s final environmental impact statement on the project, the new facility will be a “peaker” unit, helping to meet demand during short-term spikes or changes in energy supply from renewable energy sources due to weather changes.
Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Trip Hairston told The Dispatch in July the plant will help to prevent rolling blackouts and power shortages.
“Lowndes County is excited about the New Caledonia combustion turbine plant project and the continued commitment demonstrated by TVA to increase capability and additional capacity to their footprint,” Hairston said in Friday’s press release. “Additionally, this project will continue to benefit the ever-increasing economic development and recruitment efforts in the Golden Triangle.”
Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins agreed with Hairston that the plant will be a good thing for economic development. Higgins said the new plant will help to meet rising demand for energy that comes with modern industries.
“We understand that the industry of the future, like AI and … data centers, you’ve got to have energy to fuel it,” Higgins told The Dispatch. “We’re excited that TVA is doing it.”
The New Caledonia Site used to hold another gas-powered peaker plant owned by Enron, which was disassembled in 2007. TVA will utilize existing natural gas and transmission infrastructure to bring new power generation to the area, the release said.
TVA anticipates the construction of the plant will create about 200 temporary construction jobs and up to 15 permanent and regional jobs, Wise said.
“The Town of Caledonia is very excited to have the TVA Project, New Caledonia, coming to our community,” Caledonia Mayor Betty Darnell said. “Caledonia welcomes and supports this project. We welcome all of the TVA staff and construction workers who will be a part of our community and town during the construction phase as well as future operations. We look forward to them and their families becoming a part of us as long as they are here to bring this project to completion.”
Environmental impact
The plant’s operation will result in a direct increase of 590,916 metric tons of CO2 produced each year, according to the environmental impact statement. But the statement also said the facility will help to meet demand for electricity while TVA integrates renewable energy sources onto the electrical grid, “advancing TVA’s decarbonization goals.”
The environmental statement also includes mention of a possible Native American archaeological site which will be avoided during construction, as additional studies are conducted.
Construction may also cause a minor impact on endangered Indiana bat populations, the environmental statement said. However, the impact can be mitigated through winter tree removal, avoiding the bats’ spring mating season.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 48 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 48 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
