[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60529-60530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18757]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Hillsboro III Solar Project

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the purchase of electricity 
generated by the proposed Hillsboro III Solar Project in Lawrence 
County, Alabama. The EIS 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 1,500 acres of the 
3,761-acre Project Study Area. Public comments are invited concerning 
the scope of the EIS, alternatives being considered, and environmental 
issues that should be addressed as a part of this EIS. 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 
October 2, 2023.

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: 
www.tva.gov/nepa, or by email to [email protected]. Please note that TVA 
encourages comments submitted electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Smith by email at 
[email protected], by phone at (865) 632-3053, 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) and 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. Customer 
demand for cleaner energy prompted TVA to release a Request for 
Proposal (RFP) for renewable energy resources (2022 Carbon-Free RFP).
    TVA is considering entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) 
with Urban Grid Solar to purchase 200 MW AC of power generated by the 
proposed Hillsboro III Solar Project, hereafter referred to as the 
Project. The proposed 200 MW AC solar facility would occupy 
approximately 1,500 acres of the 3,761-acre Project Study Area which is 
located entirely in Lawrence County, Alabama. The project site is north 
of Wheeler, Alabama along US Highway 72 Alternate between Courtland and 
Hillsboro, Alabama. 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 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 Hillsboro III 
Solar Project under the terms of a PPA. In evaluating alternatives, TVA 
considered other solar proposals, prior to selecting the Hillsboro III 
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 Hillsboro site stood out as a viable 
option for connectivity. 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 EIS will also evaluate ways to mitigate impacts that 
cannot be avoided. The description and analysis of these alternatives 
in the EIS 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.

Project Purpose and Need

    The Hillsboro III Solar Project that was submitted as a result of 
TVA's 2022 Carbon-Free 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. 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 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

[[Page 60530]]

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, potential 
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 EIS 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 EIS. 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 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 process. 
Following analysis of the issues, TVA will prepare the draft EIS for 
public review and comment; expected to be released fall of 2024. TVA 
anticipates the final EIS in fall 2025. In finalizing the EIS and in 
making its final decision, TVA will consider the comments that it 
receives on the draft.

Rebecca Tolene,
Vice President, Environment and Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2023-18757 Filed 8-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P