Notice2025-04066
Hope Solar and Storage Project
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 13, 2025
Issuing agencies
Tennessee Valley Authority
Abstract
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an environmental document for the purchase of electricity generated by the proposed Hope Solar and Storage Project in Clay County, Mississippi. The environmental review will assess the potential environmental effects of constructing, operating, and maintaining the proposed 200- megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) solar photovoltaic (PV) facility and up to 200 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The proposed solar facility and BESS system would occupy a portion of the 2,427-acre Project Study Area. Public comments are invited concerning the scope of the review, alternatives being considered, and environmental issues that should be addressed as a part of this review. TVA is also requesting data, information, and analysis relevant to the proposed action from the public; affected federal, state, tribal, and local governments, agencies, and offices; the scientific community; industry; or any other interested party.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 48 (Thursday, March 13, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 48 (Thursday, March 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12030-12032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04066]
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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Hope Solar and Storage Project
AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.
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ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an
environmental document for the purchase of electricity generated by the
proposed Hope Solar and Storage Project in Clay County, Mississippi.
The environmental review will assess the potential environmental
effects of constructing, operating, and maintaining the proposed 200-
megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) solar photovoltaic (PV) facility
and up to 200 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The proposed
solar facility and BESS system would occupy a portion of the 2,427-acre
Project Study Area. Public comments are invited concerning the scope of
the review, alternatives being considered, and environmental issues
that should be addressed as a part of this review. TVA is also
requesting data, information, and analysis relevant to the proposed
action from the public; affected federal, state, tribal, and local
governments, agencies, and offices; the scientific community; industry;
or any other interested party.
DATES: The public scoping period begins with the publication of this
Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. To ensure consideration,
comments must be postmarked, emailed, or submitted online no later than
April 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Elizabeth Smith, NEPA
Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT
11B, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Comments may be submitted online at:
<a href="http://www.tva.gov/nepa">www.tva.gov/nepa</a>, or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#77191207163703011659101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="650b001504251113044b020a13">[email protected]</span></a>. Please note that TVA
encourages comments submitted electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Smith by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ffaecf2f6ebf7aeabdfebe9feb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c495f414558441d186c585a4d024b435a">[email protected]</span></a>, by phone at (865) 632-3053, or by mail at the address
above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The unique identification number is EISX-
455-00-000-1731928656. This notice is provided in accordance with TVA's
procedures for implementing the NEPA (18 CFR 1318). TVA is an agency
and instrumentality of the United States, established by an act of
Congress in 1933, to foster the social and economic welfare of the
people of the Tennessee Valley region and to promote the proper use and
conservation of the region's natural resources. One component of this
mission is the generation, transmission, and sale of reliable and
affordable electric energy.
Background
In June 2019, TVA completed the final 2019 Integrated Resource Plan
(IRP) and associated EIS. The IRP is a comprehensive study of how TVA
will meet the demand for electricity in its service territory over the
next 20 years. The 2019 IRP recommends solar expansion and anticipates
growth in all scenarios analyzed, with most scenarios anticipating
5,000-8,000 MW and one anticipating up to 14,000 MW by 2038.
TVA is considering entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
with Origis to purchase 200 MW AC of power and up to 200 MW of BESS
generated by the proposed Hope Solar and Storage Project, hereafter
referred to as the Project. The proposed 200 MW AC solar PV facility
and 200 MW BESS system would occupy a portion of the 2,427-acre Project
Study Area which is located in Clay County, Mississippi. The project
site is north of West Point, Mississippi, and west of US Highway 45
Alternate. The project site is mostly farmland with areas of woody
wetlands, deciduous forest, and hay/pasture. The land surplus is to
accommodate relocating the array if any areas need to be avoided as a
result of the NEPA review. A map showing the project site is available
at <a href="http://www.tva.gov/nepa">www.tva.gov/nepa</a>.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
In addition to a No Action Alternative, TVA will evaluate the
action alternative of purchasing power from the proposed Hope Solar and
Storage Project under the terms of a PPA. In evaluating alternatives,
TVA considered other solar proposals, prior to selecting the Hope Solar
and Storage site for further evaluation. Part of the screening process
included a review of transmission options, including key connection
points to TVA's transmission system. The Hope Solar and Storage site
stood out as a viable option for connectivity to TVA's existing West
Point Substation. Environmental and cultural considerations are also
included in TVA's screening. For the proposed site, the solar developer
plans to consider the establishment of an alternative footprint so that
impacts to cultural and/or biological resources could be avoided. The
environmental review will also evaluate ways to mitigate impacts that
cannot be avoided. The description and analysis of these alternatives
in the review will inform decision makers, other agencies, and the
public about the potential for environmental impacts associated with
the proposed solar facility. TVA solicits comments on whether there are
other alternatives that should be assessed in the environmental review.
Project Purpose and Need
TVA is a corporate agency of the United States (U.S.) and the
largest public power provider in the country. Through its partnership
with 153 local power companies, TVA supplies electricity across 80,000
square miles for 10 million people, 750,000 businesses, and 56 large
industrial customers, including military installations and the U.S.
Department of Energy facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. TVA's service
area includes most of Tennessee and parts of six adjacent states. Since
1933, TVA's mission has been to serve the people of the Tennessee
Valley region to make life better.
TVA produces or obtains electricity from a diverse portfolio of
energy sources, including solar, hydroelectric, wind, biomass, fossil
fuel, and nuclear. In June 2019, TVA completed an Integrated Resource
Plan (IRP) and associated environmental impact statement. The 2019 IRP
identified the various resources that TVA intends to use to meet the
energy needs of the TVA region over the 20-year planning period while
achieving TVA's objectives to deliver reliable, low-cost, and cleaner
energy with fewer environmental impacts. The 2019 IRP recommends the
expansion of solar generating capacity of up to 14,000 MW by 2038 (TVA
2019) and is currently in the process of updating the IRP. With the
demand for solar energy increasing, TVA has an expansion target of
10,000 MW of solar by 2035 (TVA 2021). The Hope Solar and Storage
Project would provide cost effective renewable energy consistent with
the 2019 IRP and TVA goals.
To meet these goals, public scoping is integral to the process for
implementing NEPA and ensures that (1) issues are identified early and
properly studied, (2) issues of little significance do not consume
substantial time and effort, and (3) the analysis of identified issues
is thorough and balanced. This environmental review will identify the
purpose and need of the project and will contain descriptions of the
existing environmental and socioeconomic resources within the area that
could be affected by the proposed solar facility and BESS system,
including the documented historical, cultural, and environmental
resources. Evaluation of potential environmental impacts to these
resources will include, but not be limited to, air quality and
greenhouse gas emissions, surface water, groundwater, wetlands,
floodplains, vegetation, wildlife, threatened and
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endangered species, land use, natural areas and parks and recreation,
geology, soils, prime farmland, visual resources, noise, cultural
resources, socioeconomics, solid and hazardous waste, public and
occupational health and safety, utilities, and transportation.
Based on a preliminary evaluation of these resources, potential
impacts to cultural resources through construction of the facility are
possible. Impacts to vegetation and wildlife due to the conversion of
deciduous forest of various ages to early maintained grass-dominated
fields may occur. Impacts to water resources would likely be minor with
the use of best management practices and avoidance of siting project
components in or near streams, wetlands, and riparian areas to the
extent feasible. Land use would be impacted by the conversion of
farmland to industrial use and the elimination of current farming
operations. This would also result in visual impacts. Beneficial
impacts are expected by facilitating the development of renewable
energy and thereby increasing local job opportunities, as well as
improving regional air quality and reducing carbon emissions. The
environmental review will analyze measures that would avoid, minimize,
or mitigate environmental effects. The final range of issues to be
addressed in the environmental review will be determined, in part, from
scoping comments received.
Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action
Public scoping is integral to the process for implementing NEPA and
ensures that issues are identified early and properly studied, issues
of little significance do not consume substantial time and effort, and
the analysis of those issues is thorough and balanced. The final range
of issues to be addressed in the environmental review will be
determined, in part, from scoping comments received. TVA is
particularly interested in public input on other reasonable
alternatives that should be considered in the review. The preliminary
identification of reasonable alternatives and environmental issues in
this notice is not meant to be exhaustive or final.
Public Participation
The public is invited to submit comments on the scope of this
environmental review no later than the date identified in the DATES
section of this notice. Federal, state, and local agencies and Native
American Tribes are also invited to provide comments. Information about
this project is available on the TVA web page at <a href="http://www.tva.gov/nepa">www.tva.gov/nepa</a>,
including a link to an online public comment page. Any comments
received, including names and addresses, will become part of the
administrative record and will be available for public inspection.
After consideration of comments received during the scoping period, TVA
will develop and distribute a scoping document that will summarize
public and agency comments that were received and identify the schedule
for completing this process. Following analysis of the issues, TVA will
prepare the draft environmental document for public review and comment;
expected to be released early 2026. TVA anticipates the final
environmental document in summer 2026. In finalizing the document and
in making its final decision, TVA will consider the comments that it
receives on the draft.
Dawn Booker,
Senior Manager, NEPA Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2025-04066 Filed 3-10-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P
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