The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) released its first-ever sustainability report late last month. The 2019 TVA Sustainability Report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the energy, environmental, economic, and societal impacts of TVA’s everyday activities and will serve as a baseline for future annual corporate sustainability reporting.

“While sustainability and integrated planning have always been part of TVA’s mission, this is the first time we have gathered this information into one report in this format,” said Rebecca Tolene, Vice President for Environment and TVA Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our goal is that this report improves the accessibility and transparency of information about TVA’s sustainability work.”

The report highlights TVA’s focus on clean energy and a low-carbon future. According to the report, TVA is on track to reduce its average carbon emissions rate by 60% from 2005 levels by the end of 2020. This reduction is fueled by TVA’s shift to a diverse energy generation mix that goes beyond coal to include nuclear, gas, hydroelectric, and renewables. TVA is also partnering with customers and stakeholders to identify ways to further reduce the Tennessee Valley’s carbon footprint.

Another element of the report is TVA’s deepening commitment to renewable energy generation. In FY 2019, TVA had more than 6,000 megawatts of contracted or operating renewable energy capacity, including more than 3,700 megawatts of hydropower, 1,100 megawatts of solar, 1,200 megawatts of wind, and 50 megawatts of biomass.

The 2019 TVA Sustainability Report is the latest in a series of efforts by TVA to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to sustainability. Earlier this year, TVA announced modifications to its Flexibility Proposal that will give local power companies the opportunity to self-generate or procure distributed generation. This modification will not only provide greater access to advanced energy in the Tennessee Valley, but create jobs and capital investment in the communities TVA serves.