sky and clouds over Douglas lake

Air Quality

As part of its role of being a good steward of the Valley’s natural resources, TVA has one of the most aggressive clean air control programs in the country.

Air Quality Standards

By investing in high-technology emissions-cleaning technology, TVA has reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 99 percent since regulations began in 1977. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions have been reduced by 97 percent since 1995. See how emissions have trended sharply downward over the years on our Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, and Ozone pages. Or view emissions data for every one of our fossil plants on our comprehensive Air Quality Standards index.

Some Highlights of TVA’s Program Include:

TVA has reduced emissions by idling or retiring coal-fired units and relying more on cleaner energy resources including natural gas and nuclear generation and renewable sources.
To reduce SO2 emissions, TVA operates scrubbers on 17 of its coal-fired units and switched to lower-sulfur coal at certain coal-fired units.
To reduce NOx emissions, TVA operates SCRs on 21 coal-fired units, operates low-NOx burners or low-NOx combustion systems and optimized combustion on all units, and operates NOx control equipment year-round when units are operating (except during start-up, shutdown, and maintenance periods).
TVA has also retired 35 of 59 coal-fired units. Except for seven units at Shawnee, the remaining coal-fired units in the TVA fleet have scrubbers and SCRs. TVA has constructed SCRs at six of the Shawnee units and is evaluating plans for the remaining three units.

Toxics Release Inventory

Technology for Quality of Life

TVA’s investment in clean air technology has quality-of-life payoffs for Valley residents. See how the SCRs and scrubber equipment work to clean the air while keeping fossil plants working to produce the energy the Valley needs to thrive.