Green Power Inches Along

Green Power Inches Along

Sep 18 - Commercial Appeal, The

IF ALL goes well, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division hopes to begin offering power generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority from renewable energy sources next spring.

That's a big "if," though. It turns out that some TVA customers who thought they were paying more for green power have just been paying more.

According to an Associated Press report, an internal audit has revealed that TVA sold 11.6 million more megawatt hours of renewable electricity in 2003 than it made, putting national accreditation of its Green Power Switch program in jeopardy.

The Center for Resource Solutions, the national green power accrediting group in San Francisco, has given TVA a year to make up the supply deficit. TVA is counting on 15 wind turbines being erected near Knoxville to put the program in the black.

TVA has touted Green Power Switch an example of how the utility is leading the way with innovations that are good for consumers, the economy and the environment. But its hopes for keeping up with the demand for green power have been hampered by technical problems.

The situation may be temporary. The 15-turbine project on Buffalo Mountain near Knoxville is expected to be on line next year, producing enough energy to create a green power surplus.

That should be a top priority with TVA. The utility has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the country, but renewable sources provide only one tenth of one percent of the utility's total generation. TVA obviously has the capacity to become a real leader in the important quest for clean energy if generation picks up.

It's not that TVA hasn't been trying. It offers green power to 66 of its 158 power distributors. Early in the program, MLGW was expected to become one of them, but its involvement has been delayed by the development of higher priority projects.

Customers who sign up for the green power program are, of course, using the same electrical power as those who don't. But by paying an extra $4 for every 150-kilowatt hour block of green power, they're helping the utility expand its operations involving renewable sources such as solar, wind and methane gas.

There seem to be a fair number of customers willing to invest in such operations for the good of the environment and for energy independence. TVA must take every necessary step to assure them their money is well spent.

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