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TVA: Dependence on coal power trending downward steadily

TVA's dependence on coal energy has gone down since 2009. We see the trend on days where power consumption was nearly as high as Wednesday, when temperatures were very low.

With sub-freezing temperatures and snow, it was a record week for TVA.

It's working to keep the heat on, and the way it powers your heat is changing.

On Wednesday, TVA hit a peak demand of nearly 31,000 megawatts, producing enough power to power New York City three times over. That morning, it was just eight degrees in Knoxville.

To keep homes warm across East Tennessee, TVA draws energy from several sources.

"TVA was actually founded on renewable power," Jim Hopson, spokesman for TVA, said.

Putting a charge into the Tennessee Valley takes a lot of manpower and science.

"Our first power sources were hydroelectric dams," Hopson said.

That science allows TVA to provide more than 30 thousand megawatts of power to the Valley on days like Wednesday, when the average temperature was 12 degrees and everyone's heat was on.

"Your air conditioning and heater system sometimes use up to 50 percent of your total power bill," Hopson said.

And keeping your lights on is changing.

"The whole power and utility industry is evolving," Hopson said.

TVA spokesperson Jim Hopson said it's going green: using less coal, and instead, more renewable resources.

"As new technologies, new generation sources become available, we're looking to implement those, but ensuring that we're not going to do so at the compromise of low cost and reliability," Hopson said.

TVA compared Wednesday's power demand...to other cold winter days in the past.

The first is Jan. 16, 2009.

That day, 39 percent of the energy came from coal.

Solar and wind power didn't account for any at all.

Let's check about four years ago on another comparable power demand day. Coal dropped significantly, with a two percent increase in solar and wind and an eight percent increase in natural gas.

On Wednesday, natural gas increased more, and coal dropped down to 18 percent.

Wind and solar didn't account for much, and Hopson said it's because the wind didn't blow much here in the Valley.

"So having that diverse portfolio not only ensures that safe, reliable power, but also helps us maintain that low-cost tradition that TVA is known for," Hopson said.

Hopson says a lot of production comes from nuclear power, and he says it's one of the safest ways to produce power, despite its reputation.

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