The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering adding a pumped storage hydro (PSH) facility in Jackson County to increase its energy output.
During a public meeting on Thursday night in Pisgah, TVA officials discussed the plan for the facility and its potential impact on the surrounding communities. Currently, there are three possible locations for the PSH, including near Widows Creek in Fabius, Rorex Creek in Pisgah — the preferred option — and expanding its existing PSH at Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, Tenn. Regardless of location, the facility would have an energy generation capacity ranging from 1,200 megawatts up to 1,600 and cost up to $5 billion.
Pumped storage hydropower enables the TVA to store energy by shifting water between two reservoirs at different elevations. When energy is needed, water from the upper reservoir is released to the lower, creating energy that can be released to the grid. That water is then pumped back to the upper reservoir for energy storage.
The construction of the PSH could dramatically alter that landscape and displace some residents from their properties. A similar project was proposed IN 2023 by Alabama Power on Chandler Mountain near Rainbow City. That project was canceled after facing significant pushback from the residents.
The public has until July 14 to submit a question or comment about the TVA's plan. The final decision will be made in December.
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