PISGAH, Ala. — The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is exploring plans for a major new energy project in Jackson County, Alabama, that could transform the region’s power infrastructure.
With rapid population growth across the Tennessee Valley driving increased energy demand, TVA officials say planning for future power needs is critical. One of the TVA’s key energy facilities is the pumped storage plant at Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, which stores and generates electricity by moving water between reservoirs.
Now, TVA is considering a similar pumped storage facility just west of Pisgah on Sand Mountain. The proposed site, located near County Road 88, would see farmland converted into an upper reservoir linked to the Tennessee River across from the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant.
“The Tennessee Valley is growing. We need power,” said TVA project director Scottie Barrentine. “When we need additional energy on the grid — such as during peak demand or extreme weather events — we’ll release water through turbines to generate power, just like at Raccoon Mountain.”
TVA is also evaluating a site near Stevenson, but officials say the Pisgah location better suits the project’s needs. The facility is expected to take nearly a decade to complete and cost between $4 billion and $5 billion.
Barrentine explained that expanding the existing Raccoon Mountain facility was considered but deemed impractical. “Expanding Raccoon Mountain would only allow us to charge and discharge the water battery faster,” he said. “It wouldn’t increase the overall storage capacity.”
The new project could create up to 1,000 construction jobs at its peak, providing a significant boost to the local economy.
Plans also include a new bridge across the Tennessee River to connect Pisgah to U.S. Highway 72, as well as new recreational opportunities. “Many are familiar with Raccoon Mountain’s hiking and mountain biking trails, which bring recreational dollars to the area,” Barrentine noted.
Residents can learn more at a community meeting scheduled for Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Pisgah High School, where TVA officials will present details and answer questions.