Copeland Solar Project

Cumberland County, Tennessee

May 2026

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is preparing a final environmental assessment (EA) for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Copeland Solar project in Cumberland County, Tennessee. The solar facility would be constructed, owned, and operated by Silicon Ranch (SR) Copeland, LLC.

The Copeland solar facility would occupy about 1,117 acres of a 1,660-acre Project site located about five miles northwest of Crossville, Tennessee. The solar facility would have a generating capacity of up to 110 megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC) and a potential battery energy storage system (BESS) of up to 150 MW capacity. The solar facility would connect to TVA’s existing nearby Plateau 500-kilovolt (kV) substation via a new, approximately 1.1 mile-long, 161-kV transmission line called a generation tie (gen-tie) line from a newly constructed substation. TVA would purchase the power from the proposed Copeland solar facility.

As part of TVA’s diversified energy strategy, TVA produces or obtains electricity from a diverse portfolio of energy sources, including solar, hydroelectric, wind, biomass, fossil fuel, and nuclear. In June 2019, TVA completed an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and associated environmental impact statement (EIS). The 2019 IRP identified the various resources that TVA intends to use to meet the energy needs of the TVA region over a 20-year planning period while achieving TVA’s objectives to deliver reliable, low-cost energy with fewer environmental impacts. The 2019 IRP anticipates growth of solar generating capacity in all scenarios analyzed, with most scenarios anticipating 5,000–8,000 MW and one anticipating up to 14,000 MW by 2038. This project would help TVA meet customer demands and is consistent with the 2019 IRP.

TVA will use this EA to support the decision-making process and to determine whether an EIS should be prepared or whether a Finding of No Significant Impact may be issued.

Public Involvement

April 2026 – TVA published the draft EA. The public comment period opened on April 18, 2026, and closed on May 2, 2026.

TVA will review and consider submitted comments in preparing the final EA.

Project Schedule

(Dates are subject to change. Unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

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