TVA board approves long-term plan adding 14 GW solar by 2038

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors approved during its August meeting a 20-year integrated resource plan (IRP) which would add up to 14 GW of new solar capacity by 2038, the company announced Thursday. The long-term plan has been criticized by renewables advocates for the low amount of resources intended for the next five years. The board determined "more simple cycle gas units" are likely needed to "follow the variable loads that will be created by renewable energy additions," Scott Brooks, TVA spokesperson, told Utility Dive in an email. TVA drew criticism for reliance on natural gas — the IRP would add up to 18.4 GW of new capacity if a high level of load growth materializes.