Permits put on hold for planned pipeline to fuel a new Tennessee natural gas power plant
A federal appeals panel has temporarily halted two permits needed to begin construction on a pipeline that will supply a natural gas plant planned in Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal appeals panel has temporarily halted two permits needed to begin construction on a pipeline project in Tennessee that will supply a natural gas plant.
In a split 2-1 decision, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel delivered a ruling Friday that, for now, prevents Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC from starting to build its 32-mile (50-kilometer) pipeline through Dickson, Houston and Stewart counties.
The project would fuel the Tennessee Valley Authority's combined-cycle natural gas facility at the site of the coal-fired Cumberland Fossil Plant that is being retired.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company could have begun construction as soon as Tuesday, according to the court records.
TVA, meanwhile, plans to mothball its two-unit coal plant in two stages — one, by the end of 2026, to be replaced the same year by the 1,450-megawatt natural gas plant; and the second, shuttered by the end of 2028, with options still open on its replacement.
“This pause is a crucial opportunity to rethink the risks of fossil fuel development and prioritize the health and environment of Cumberland and our region,” said Emily Sherwood, a Sierra Club senior campaign organizer, in a news release Monday.
TVA’s plans to open more natural gas plants have angered advocates who want a quick redirection away from fossil fuels and into solar and other renewables, as TVA plans to retire its entire coal fleet by the mid-2030s.
The case is set for oral arguments on Dec. 10. If additional appeals are filed and succeed, the timeline could be reset again.
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