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Tennessee Valley Authority Revises 2050 Energy Plan with Lower Solar Target
The Tennessee Valley Authority released an updated Integrated Resource Plan that projects no more than 5 gigawatts of solar generation and excludes wind. The changes follow leadership turnover and reduced federal renewable incentives under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025.
Jul 10, 4:30 AM·1m read1 source
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The Tennessee Valley Authority has lowered its projected solar capacity in a revised Integrated Resource Plan that now forecasts power needs through 2050 for 10 million residents across Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, and Virginia.
The latest iteration expects no more than 5 gigawatts of solar generation, down from up to 20 gigawatts in the 2025 draft, and excludes wind energy entirely. Grist reported that the plan revision began last year after the previous Integrated Resource Plan from 2019.
The 2025 draft advanced through multiple rounds of public comment before stalling when the board lost its quorum. President Trump fired three board members, which delayed decisions for more than nine months. CEO Don Moul stepped down and was replaced by Mike Skaggs, former vice president of operations and construction at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.
Trump appointed three new board members over the winter, after which work on the plan resumed. The updated plan rests on three economic assumptions, one of which incorporates the reduction of federal tax incentives for renewable energy. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 requires new utility-scale solar projects to break ground by 2027 to qualify for remaining incentives.
TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks stated the utility will continue to consider offers from wind and solar developers. He added that the plan changes reflect market conditions.
