TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash Announces Intent to Retire

Article written by Melissa Greene, TVA Media Relations TVA.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  After an industry career spanning more than 40 years, Jeff Lyash, Tennessee Valley Authority President and Chief Executive Officer, has announced his plans to retire no later than the end of the fiscal year. Lyash has served as TVA’s CEO for nearly six years and will continue to lead TVA until the Board of Directors selects a successor.

“For the past six years, it’s been my privilege to serve with an experienced, talented team at TVA,” said Lyash. “TVA truly is a special place – created more than 90 years ago to improve the quality of life for more than 10 million people across this region. That mission of service continues to be our focus today. The stability and growth of our regional economy and the lives of the people we serve depend on our commitment to delivering affordable, reliable, resilient and sustainable energy.

“I grew up in the small coal-mining town of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and I cannot think of a better place than TVA to close out my career serving people just like those in my hometown. While I’m looking forward to my next chapter, spending more time with family, grandchildren, and friends, I will miss our TVA team and the relationships we’ve built across this region. The true strength of TVA is its people – an experienced and passionate workforce who work every day to make a difference.”

Appointed by the TVA Board of Directors in April 2019, Lyash has led the nation’s largest public utility with a focus on building strong partnerships, including the region’s 153 Local Power Companies, and managing sustained regional growth and the company’s largest-ever capital investment, which includes new power generation and enhancements to transmission infrastructure.

“Jeff’s knowledge and experience make him one of the top leaders in the energy industry,” said TVA Board Chair Joe Ritch. “Jeff has done more than lead one of the nation’s top power providers, he has helped drive an industry forward. His vision has positioned TVA well for the future, and he has built a legacy that will endure.”

TVA maintains some of the lowest energy costs and highest reliability in the nation. TVA’s retail rates are lower than 80 percent of the rest of the nation, while its industrial rates are lower than 95 percent of the top utilities.

Under Jeff’s leadership, TVA has worked with regional partners to deliver the next generation of American jobs. In the past five years alone, TVA has helped create approximately $45.9 billion in capital investment, creating or retaining more than 326,000 jobs.

With sustained regional growth at approximately three times the national average, TVA is making significant investments in its power system – over $22 billion in the past decade, including $4 billion in 2024 alone, and an additional $16 billion over the next several years toward new generation and transmission. Today, TVA has more than 3,500 megawatts of new generation under construction or online.

Those investments have helped TVA meet record-breaking demand for electricity, including last week’s all time power demand record of 35,319 megawatts, which is the equivalent of powering 20 million homes at once.

Under Jeff’s leadership, the TVA team:

  • Developed the Long-term Partnership Proposal, a 20-year business agreement between TVA and Local Power Company (LPC) partners. More than 95 percent of the region’s 153 LPCs signed on to this agreement, strengthening TVA’s bond with its customers. “Everything we do, we do in partnership,” said Lyash. “And the Tennessee Valley Public Power Model – a partnership between TVA and 153 outstanding LPCs – is a significant competitive advantage for our region.”
  • Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, TVA’s financial strength and stability allowed it to provide much needed support to customers, businesses, and communities during the pandemic. In 2020, TVA made available $1 billion in customer relief credits and initiated a $200 million rate reduction in 2021.
  • In October 2023, TVA launched a $1.5 billion energy efficiency initiative to assist customers and businesses in reducing their energy costs and using energy wisely. These programs are expected to offset approximately 30 percent of future load growth over the next decade.
  • An advocate and champion for nuclear energy, Lyash has positioned TVA as national leader in the development of advanced nuclear technologies. In 2019, TVA became the nation’s first utility to successfully obtain approval for an early site permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to potentially construct and operate a small modular reactor (SMR) at its Clinch River site. TVA is leading an application – with 11 nuclear industry partners and the State of Tennessee – for an $800 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to accelerate construction of the nation’s first small modular reactor.

Lyash on TVA’s leadership in nuclear: “Nuclear is the most reliable and efficient energy the world has ever known, and TVA is uniquely positioned to help drive this forward. Advanced nuclear technologies will play a critical role in our region and nation’s drive towards great energy security.”

Bio and Background

Before joining TVA, Lyash served as president and CEO of Ontario Power Generation, one of the largest electricity generating companies in Canada with a diverse fleet of nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, biomass, and renewable generating stations.

Lyash was formerly the president of CB&I Power, where he was responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction of multi-billion-dollar electric generation projects in both domestic and international markets.

Prior to joining CB&I, Lyash served as executive vice president of Energy Supply for Duke Energy, where he led engineering, maintenance, and operations of the company’s 42,000-megawatt generation fleet, fuel procurement, power trading, major projects and construction, environmental programs, and health and safety programs.

Before the merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy, he was executive vice president of Energy Supply for Progress Energy. In this role, he oversaw Progress Energy’s diverse 22,000-megawatt fleet of generating resources, including nuclear, coal, oil, natural gas, and hydroelectric stations. In addition, Lyash was responsible for generating fleet fuel procurement and power trading operations.

Lyash joined Progress Energy in 1993 and served in several leadership capacities including President and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. Lyash began his career in the utility industry in 1981 and worked for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in senior technical and management positions, receiving the NRC Meritorious Service Award.

Lyash earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University and was honored with the Drexel University Distinguished Alumnus Award. He has held a senior reactor operator license from the NRC and is a graduate of the Duke University Fuqua School of Business Advanced Management Program.

Spring ATVG Meeting Planned for March 5th Mammoth Cave National Park

Make your reservations now for March 5, 2025 Mammoth Cave National Park –  Meeting will begin with lunch at noon at the Lodge at Mammoth Cave.   Agenda TBA.  Book Reservations Early!

  • The Lodge at Mammoth Cave
    Mammoth Cave National Park
    1 Mammoth Cave Parkway
    Mammoth Cave, KY  42259
    Telephone:  270-451-2283

    All rooms are blocked off March 4 and 5.  Ask for the ATVG Rooms.  Government Room Rate applies.

ATVG Proposes Resolution To Change Bylaws

ATVG Executive Board recently discussed to reduce the number of meetings annually from four meetings to three meetings.  According Mike Arms, Executive Director, a change in the bylaws must be proposed and voted on by the full membership.  President Scott Lindsey has offered a resolution to change the bylaws to allow the number of meetings change.  See letter and resolution here.

Lake Guntersville Gets Needed Grants to Fight Invasive Grass

The Lake Guntersville, Alabama Stakeholders Group is an organization that has been working with fisherman, property owners, TVA, and local city and county governments to address the management of invasive aquatic weeds since the 1980’s.

In the early years, the problems primarily came from hydrilla and milfoil.  The fishermen loved those weeds because they gave cover for the feeder fish to spawn in and the edge of one of  those fields of weeds generally provided a good place to find large-mouthed bass.

Unfortunately, the weeds made it hard to navigate the waters and many times they blocked access to boat docks, boating ramps, and access lanes and would even clog the coolant intake on motors in the open waters.  Homeowners hated them – especially those that weren’t fishermen but enjoyed skiing, sailing, rowing, and other water activities.

Hydrilla and milfoil are well-controlled with aquatic herbicides and a management plan could be executed that left some areas alone for fishermen yet cleaned other areas to provide access to boat docks and for other uses of the lake.

 

Then came eel grass.  There is a native eel grass but it doesn’t spread as aggressively as what we are fighting now.  We’ve learned through DNA testing that this eel grass is a hybrid that may have it’s beginnings in the fish tank industry. There is much speculation as to how this variety was introduced into our reservoir but regardless as to how it got started, it is very aggressively spreading now and it is not as well-controlled with the aquatic herbicides that are currently being used. Large mats of floating eel grass can break loose and cause significant issues wherever they end up.  When eel grass decays it produces a slimy sludge and a rotting odor.  It is a significant threat to just about every aspect that the lake is used for and is a major threat to economic development.

One of the reasons why it’s worse in Guntersville than any other lake in the TVA system could be because we have the shallowest lake in the TVA system which provides excellent growing conditions.  Plus, we can’t fluctuate our water levels much because of the depth needs for commercial barge traffic and this limits some of the weed control measures..

WET was formed as a 501(c)3 in September of 2011 but due to lack of funds we weren’t capable to do much other than to educate various entities regarding our issues with invasive weeds in Lake Guntersville.  In 2019, WET joined forces with the Lake Guntersville Stakeholders Group to provide a funding mechanism for additional efforts.   We currently manage a website and Facebook page called MyLakeGuntersville.

WET received a pair of federal grants through Fish & Wildlife that totaled $1.2M and last year started working in partnership with TVA to join in the fight against the invasive weeds with TVA covering the weed control of public areas such as boat ramps and WET covering the privately owned areas.

In addition to herbicides, TVA has contracted harvesters to remove the weeds (primarily eel grass) from the water but the scope of the problem has been likened to harvesting a square mile of wheat with something the size of a lawn mower.

TVA is also partnering with Mississippi State to test other herbicides and other control methods that might be more effective than those currently used.

The main growing season for the weeds is mid-May to mid-October.  During the peak growth months, the cost of the current herbicide control methods is about $90k per week.  That does not include the additional expenses TVA incurs for the harvesting program.  At that rate, our current grants will soon run out and additional funds will be needed to carry on the work.

Visit MyLakeGuntersville.com for more information or to donate.

 

How TVA Kept Pace with Record Power Demands- Knoxville News Sentinel

More energy sources, new tech worked during winter storm

Photo: HANNAH MATTIX/NEWS SENTINEL

TVA relied heavily on nuclear plants to keep power flowing to customers during the winter storm.

The Tennessee Valley Authority had a record-setting power week in January, making use of the millions of dollars the agency invested on weatherization and new natural gas plants to get through a week-long winter storm and deep freeze.

A diverse mix of sources, built on the foundation of nuclear power, got the federal utility through its highest-ever power demand on Jan. 17, its highestever weekend power demand on Jan. 21, and its highest amount of power delivered in one week.

The energy sources used during the storm also reflect TVA’s move toward natural gas and away from coal plants, which failed it during Winter Storm Elliott in 2022 and have gotten more expensive as they age.

In extreme weather events, it’s “all resources on deck,” said Aaron Melda, senior vice president of power supply operations at TVA. Melda told Knox News the agency’s operators were thankful as last month’s winter storm arrived that new natural gas plants can withstand cold temperatures.

“Those coal sites are like you’ve got a ‘78 Buick in the driveway,” Melda said. “Bringing on these newer natural gas sites, it’s simply like buying a new car. The inherent reliability of those facilities are going to be better just because they are newer.”

Melda said TVA will continue to invest in extending the lives of its nuclear plants and hydroelectric dams, two of its most reliable power sources.

Where did TVA gets its energy during the record-breaking week?

More vital in extremely low temperatures than its diverse energy mix was the $123 million TVA spent since the blackouts of Winter Storm Elliott to ready its plants for another winter storm, including millions spent on heating technology.

TVA is able to generate close to

33,000 megawatts with all cylinders firing. It can also purchase thousands more megawatts from neighboring utilities.

During Jan. 15-21, the utility purchased about one-sixth of its power and used all its available generating sources, Melda said. Only 3% of TVA’s fleet was unavailable during the week’s peak power demands.

Here’s the breakdown of where that power came from over the week:

● 30% nuclear

● 26% natural gas

● 16% coal

● 11% hydroelectric

● 17% purchased power

The ratio of electricity produced over the frigid week differs from the ratio of general capacities of various sources, which TVA reported in its latest annual SEC filing in November 2023:

● 42% nuclear

● 22% natural gas

● 13% coal

● 8% hydroelectric

● 15% purchased power

Though nuclear accounts for 42% of TVA’s generating capacity, the utility’s three nuclear plants don’t contribute to that capacity at every moment of the week, Melda said.

TVA trades old coal plants for new gas plants

TVA’s shift away from coal and toward natural gas continued between December 2022 — when it ordered its first rolling blackouts — and the January 2024 storm.

Since 2012, TVA has closed seven coal plants, and placed natural gas generators at five of the sites.

The agency retired the Bull Run Fossil Plant on Dec. 1, 2023, and three new natural gas units at the Paradise Combined Cycle Plant in Kentucky came online a month later, adding 750 megawatts of generation built to withstand low temperatures.

Along with three units that came online in July 2023 in Alabama, TVA added almost 1,500 megawatts of natural gas generation.

The Bull Run plant in the Claxton community of Anderson County failed to start generating during Winter Storm Elliott, exposing the weaknesses of TVA’s aging fleet of coal plants.

The average age of the remaining coal plants — Cumberland, Gallatin, Kingston and Shawnee — is about 60 years old, though they were built to run about 40 years. TVA plans to shutter all of them by 2035.

Another problem with coal for TVA is a growing set of federal regulations on the dirty fuel, which make modifying old plants too expensive to be worth it, Melda said.

“Increasing federal standards are requiring additional equipment be added on what is already an old facility, and the finances don’t work out, extending those lives versus bringing new new plants online,” Melda said.

Natural gas also is a fossil fuel, but it emits less carbon than coal. Gas plants can be built in the footprint of coal plants, a model TVA leaders say is a bridge to a cleaner energy future.

TVA has a geographical advantage in the natural gas supply chain, which can drastically affect revenues if gas prices soar. It is positioned between the Marcellus shale formation to the north, where gas is extracted through fracking, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

To meet population growth and to make best use of a reliable natural gas supply, spurred on by controversial fracking technology, TVA is building more gas plants. It will replace the Cumberland Fossil Plant, its largest coal plant, with a 1,450 megawatts natural gas plant scheduled to come online in 2026.

Which records did TVA break during the 2024 winter storm?

January’s winter storm was notable not only for the volume of snow and frigid temperatures, between 6.5 and 10 inches in the Knoxville area, but also for how long the snow stuck around, a record seven consecutive days with 4 or more inches of snow on the ground.

At 9 a.m. Jan. 17, as temperatures hovered near 0 degrees in Knoxville and averaged 4 degrees across the Tennessee Valley, TVA withstood a record power demand of 34,524 megawatts, according to preliminary data. That’s enough electricity to power more than 20 million average homes at once.

At 9 a.m. Jan. 21, the utility had a record weekend power demand of 34,284 megawatts.

Over the week of Jan. 15-21, TVA delivered 4,792 gigawatt hours of energy, a record for a seven-day period. A gigawatt is equivalent to 1,000 megawatts, and a gigawatt hour is a measure of energy use over one hour.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, independently gathers energy data, though its data is not validated by utility companies.

During the record power demand on the morning of Jan. 17, the Energy Information Administration tracked how much power TVA’s fleet was producing:

● Nuclear: 8,523 megawatts

● Natural gas: 10,403 megawatts

● Coal: 4,642 megawatts

● Hydroelectric: 5,085 megawatts

● Other: 1,432 megawatts

● Solar: 53 megawatts

TVA has purchase contracts for 715 megawatts of solar and another 1,867 megawatts under contract but not yet operating, according to 2023 SEC filings. It plans to add 10,000 megawatts of solar generation by 2035, which delivers relatively cheap energy when the sun is shining.

Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com.