[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32270-32271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10654]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Solar and Battery Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: TVA is working to build an energy system powered by cleaner, 
more flexible energy, and solar and storage will play a big role. TVA 
has an expansion target of 10,000 megawatts (MW) of solar by 2035. TVA 
has identified the need to respond more efficiently and effectively to 
the growing number of solar and battery projects that will be required 
to achieve TVA's overall decarbonization goals and aspirations. To meet 
its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), TVA 
is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to 
develop new guidance and a bounding analysis that will further 
facilitate solar energy and battery energy storage development on TVA-
owned and private lands within the TVA service area. TVA would consider 
this guidance, including recommended environmental practices and 
mitigation measures, in its decision-making processes.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments on the scope, alternatives 
being considered, and environmental issues must be postmarked, emailed, 
or submitted online no later than June 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Elizabeth Smith, NEPA 
Compliance Specialist, 400 West Summit Hill Dr., WT 11B, Knoxville, TN 
37902-1499. Comments may also be submitted online at: https://www.tva.gov/NEPA or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about the NEPA 
process and/or general project information, please contact Elizabeth 
Smith, NEPA Compliance Specialist,

[[Page 32271]]

email: [email protected], or contact by phone at 865-632-3053.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided in accordance with 
the Council on Environmental Quality's Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 
to 1508) and TVA's procedures for implementing NEPA. 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. 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.
    The analyses in a programmatic NEPA review are valuable in setting 
out the broad view of environmental impacts and benefits for a proposed 
decision such as establishing a policy, program, or plan. That 
programmatic NEPA review can then be relied upon when agencies make 
decisions based on the programmatic EIS, as well as decisions based on 
a subsequent (also known as tiered) NEPA review.
    Public comment is invited concerning the scope of the PEIS, 
alternatives being considered, and environmental issues that should be 
addressed as a part of this PEIS. 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.

Background

    In June 2019, TVA completed the 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 anticipated 
growth in all scenarios analyzed, with most scenarios anticipating 
5,000 to 8,000 MW and one anticipating up to 14,000 MW by 2038, as well 
as up to 5,300 MW of storage. The IRP recommendation as well as 
customer demand for cleaner energy has prompted TVA to release multiple 
Requests for Proposal for renewable energy and carbon-free energy 
resources since 2019. As of April 2023, TVA currently has over 2,900 MW 
of solar capacity both operating and contracted.
    TVA has identified the need to respond in a more efficient and 
effective manner to the growing number of solar and battery projects 
that will be required to meet the target supply identified in the 2019 
IRP and to meet TVA's carbon reduction goals. Programmatic 
environmental guidance would seek to minimize potential negative 
environmental impacts, minimize social and economic impacts, integrate 
conservation measures with site development in alignment with the TVA 
Biodiversity Policy, and standardize and streamline the authorization 
process for solar energy development through a bounding analysis to 
help identify the range of potential impacts or risks. TVA's purpose is 
to promote, expedite, and advance the production and transmission of 
environmentally sound energy resources, including solar energy and 
battery storage systems, and increase opportunities for responsible 
renewable energy development.

Alternatives

    The PEIS will evaluate a no action alternative, under which TVA 
would not develop programmatic environmental guidance and continue to 
address environmental concerns for TVA-owned and TVA-contracted solar 
and battery projects on a case-by-case basis. Under the action 
alternative, TVA would develop programmatic environmental guidance 
through a bounding analysis to help identify the range of potential 
impacts or risks for use in TVA-owned and TVA-contracted solar and 
battery projects. TVA solicits comment on whether there are other 
alternatives that should be assessed in the PEIS. TVA also requests 
information and analyses that may be relevant to the project.

Resource Areas and Issues To Be Considered

    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 PEIS will identify the purpose and need of the action 
alternative and will contain descriptions of the existing environmental 
and socioeconomic resources within the TVA power service area that 
could be affected by the proposed project. Evaluation of potential 
environmental impacts to these resources will include, but not be 
limited to, water resources, biological resources, cultural resources, 
natural areas and recreation, navigation, utilities, recreation, 
floodplains, wetlands, geology and groundwater, air quality and climate 
change, greenhouse gas emissions, land use and prime farmland, noise, 
public health and safety, socioeconomics and environmental justice, 
solid and hazardous waste and material, transportation, and visual 
resources. The PEIS 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. TVA 
is particularly interested in public input on other reasonable 
alternatives that should be considered in the PEIS. 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 the PEIS 
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. Written requests to participate as a 
consulting party or cooperating agency must be received by June 20, 
2023. Information about this project is available on the TVA web page 
at https://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 a scoping document that will summarize public and 
agency comments that were received and identify the schedule for 
completing the PEIS process. Following analysis of the resources and 
issues, TVA will prepare a draft PEIS for public review and comment 
tentatively scheduled for 2024; the final PEIS and decision is 
tentatively scheduled for 2025.
    In finalizing the PEIS and in making its final decision, TVA will 
consider the comments that it receives on the draft PEIS.
    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9.

Susan Jacks,
General Manager, Environmental Resource Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-10654 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P