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Environmental Policy

A commitment to stewardship, transparency, and continuous improvement for the Tennessee Valley.

Our Commitment

The Tennessee Valley Authority works to improve quality of life across the region by providing reliable, affordable and resilient energy, stewarding the Tennessee River system and public lands, and supporting sustainable economic growth. TVA is committed to protecting and enhancing the Valley region’s natural, cultural and recreational resources while balancing environmental responsibility with energy reliability and economic opportunity in accordance with the TVA Environmental Policy.

We comply with all applicable environmental laws, regulations and commitments and proactively manage evolving environmental requirements alongside regulators, partners and stakeholders.

Our Environmental Management System (EMS)

TVA maintains a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS) that provides the structure for environmental performance across the enterprise. The EMS is aligned with ISO 14001:2026 - Environmental management systems and operates under a Plan–Do–Check–Act framework.

Through the Environmental Management System, TVA:

  • Establishes clear roles and environmental objectives
  • Implements risk-based operational controls
  • Conducts monitoring, internal audits and performance reviews
  • Drives continuous improvement through corrective actions and management oversight

The Environmental Management System guides stewardship activities, incident prevention and integration of lessons learned across TVA operations.

Our Guiding Pillars

Environmental Protection & Compliance

TVA is committed to:

  • Providing reliable and affordable energy while reducing environmental impacts across air, water, land, biodiversity and cultural resources
  • Minimizing waste and protecting the Valley’s water, wildlife, cultural, and recreational resources
  • Applying environmental considerations in planning, design, construction and operations
  • Setting and reviewing environmental targets and goals through the Environmental Management System

Continuous Improvement

TVA continually evaluates and refines our environmental performance by:

  • Collaborating across the enterprise to address environmental issues proactively
  • Tracking progress with benchmarking and performance assessments
  • Investing in research and technologies that reduce TVA’s environmental footprint

Partnership & Transparency

Strong relationships and open communication underpin TVA’s approach. TVA commits to:

  • Partnering with local power companies, direct served customers, government entities, universities, national laboratories, manufacturers and natural resource organizations to advance shared environmental goals
  • Participating in responsible policy dialogue and supporting environmental laws and standards aligned with TVA’s mission and community needs
  • Communicating TVA’s environmental responsibilities openly, including challenges and the balancing of competing priorities

Stewardship of the Tennessee Valley

TVA continues to integrate sustainable practices into business operations by establishing goals, measuring progress and reporting performance. In keeping with the Environmental Policy, TVA:

  • Improves regional air quality through emission controls on existing generation and through adopting cleaner energy options
  • Protects water resources through comprehensive river system operations
  • Reduces waste and increases recycling in operational and business functions
  • Enhances biodiversity and wildlife habitat
  • Preserves cultural and historical resources
  • Supports recreational access and outdoor opportunities across the Valley

Read more about environmental stewardship at TVA.

Governance and Oversight

TVA’s Environmental Policy is reviewed by the TVA Board of Directors every three years, ensuring it remains aligned with TVA’s mission and regional needs. Environmental performance and strategy are reviewed by the Board, through the Committee designated, if any, with jurisdiction for stakeholder issues, annually, reinforcing accountability and transparency.

Working With Us

TVA welcomes collaboration with communities, Tribal Nations, researchers, local power companies and stakeholders throughout the Valley region. Our environmental commitments are strengthened through shared insight, open dialogue and responsible partnerships.

For questions or to engage with TVA on environmental topics, please contact [email protected].