Moore County Solar Project, 23484-23485 [2021-09223]

Agencies

• Tennessee Valley Authority

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 83 (Monday, May 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23484-23485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09223]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Moore County Solar Project

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Notice of Intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) 
for the purchase of electricity generated by the proposed Moore County 
Solar Project in Moore County, Tennessee. The EIS or EA will assess the 
potential environmental effects of constructing, operating, and 
maintaining the proposed 200-megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) 
solar facility. The proposed 200 MW AC solar facility would occupy 
approximately 2,000 acres of the roughly 3,300-acre Project Study Area. 
Public comments are invited concerning both the scope of the 
environmental review and environmental issues that should be addressed 
in the EIS or EA. 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: To ensure consideration, comments must be postmarked, emailed, 
or submitted online no later than June 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Ashley Pilakowski, NEPA 
Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 
11B, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Comments may be submitted online at: 
www.tva.gov/nepa, or by email to [email protected]. Please note that, due to 
current TVA requirements for many employees to work remotely, comments 
submitted electronically are encouraged.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Pilakowski by email at 
[email protected], by phone at (865) 632-2256, or by mail at the 
address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided in accordance with 
the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations 40 CFR parts 1500 to 
1508 (84 FR 43304, July 16, 2020) and TVA's procedures for implementing 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at 18 CFR part 1318, as 
well as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) 
and its implementing regulations (36 CFR part 800). Following site 
investigations and a preliminary determination of the anticipated 
environmental impacts, TVA will decide whether the proposed action will 
be the subject of an EIS or EA.
    TVA is a federal agency and instrumentality of the United States, 
created in 1933 by an act of Congress to foster the social and economic 
well-being of the residents of the Tennessee Valley region. As part of 
its diversified energy strategy, TVA produces or obtains electricity 
from a diverse portfolio of energy sources, including solar, 
hydroelectric, wind, biomass, fossil fuel, and nuclear.

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. Customer 
demand for cleaner energy prompted TVA to release a Request for 
Proposal (RFP) for renewable energy resources (2020 Renewable RFP). The 
Moore County Solar Project power purchase agreement (PPA) that resulted 
from this RFP will help TVA meet immediate needs for additional 
renewable generating capacity in response to customer demands and 
fulfill the renewable energy goals established in the 2019 IRP.
    TVA has entered into a PPA with Silicon Ranch Corporation to 
purchase 200 MW AC of power generated by the proposed Moore County 
Solar Project, hereafter referred to as the project. The proposed 200 
MW AC solar facility would occupy approximately 2,000 acres of the 
roughly 3,300-acre Project Study Area which is located entirely in 
Moore County, Tennessee. The project site is bisected by State Route 55 
and its eastern boundary borders the western city limits of Tullahoma, 
Tennessee. The project site is mostly forested with areas of wetlands, 
croplands, and early successional fields. A TVA 161-kilovolt 
transmission line runs north-south through the site. A map showing the 
project site is available at www.tva.gov/nepa.

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    In addition to a No Action Alternative, TVA will evaluate the 
action alternative of purchasing power from the proposed Moore County 
Solar Project. In evaluating alternatives, TVA considered other solar 
proposals, prior to selecting the Moore County site. Part of the 
screening process included a review of transmission options, including 
key connection points to TVA's transmission system. The Moore County 
site stood out as a viable option

[[Page 23485]]

for connectivity. For the proposed site, the solar developer plans to 
consider the establishment of a reduced footprint so that impacts to 
cultural and/or biological resources could be avoided. The EIS or EA 
will also evaluate ways to mitigate impacts that cannot be avoided. The 
description and analysis of these alternatives in the EIS or EA 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 EIS or EA.

Brief Summary of Expected Impacts

    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 EA or EIS 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, 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 endangered 
species, land use, natural areas and parks and recreation, geology, 
soils, prime farmland, visual resources, noise, cultural resources, 
socioeconomics and environmental justice, solid and hazardous waste, 
public and occupational health and safety, utilities, and 
transportation.
    Based on a preliminary evaluation of these resources, TVA expects 
potential impacts to vegetation and wildlife due to the conversion of 
coniferous and hardwood forests of various ages to early maintained 
grass-dominated fields. 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 
the undeveloped site to industrial use and the elimination of current 
farming and timber operations. This would also result in visual 
impacts. The current recreational uses of the site, primarily hunting, 
would also be eliminated. Historic properties could be impacted but 
would be avoided to the extent feasible or mitigated in compliance with 
applicable regulations. Nearly half of the site was once used as an 
auxiliary training area for the U.S. Army during World War II. The site 
was deactivated in 1946 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has 
conducted numerous inspections and remediation efforts on the former 
Motlow Range to ensure public and occupational health and safety. 
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 EIS or EA 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

    TVA requests assistance with identifying any new potential 
alternatives to the proposed action to be considered. TVA also requests 
assistance with identifying any new potential impacts of the proposed 
action, identifying the activity and the potential impact that should 
be analyzed. Information interested parties possess which would assist 
in the analysis of resources issues is also appreciated. TVA is 
particularly interested in public input on other reasonable 
alternatives that should be considered in the EIS or EA. The 
preliminary identification of reasonable alternatives, information, and 
analyses relevant to the proposed action 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 EA or 
EIS 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 www.tva.gov/nepa, 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 the EIS or EA 
process. Following analysis of the issues, TVA will prepare the draft 
EIS or EA for public review and comment; expected to be released late 
2021 or early 2022. TVA anticipates the final EIS or EA in summer of 
2022. In finalizing the EIS or EA and in making its final decision, TVA 
will consider the comments that it receives on the draft.

Rebecca Tolene,
Vice President, Environment.
[FR Doc. 2021-09223 Filed 4-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P