Wind power in Tennessee

Wind power in Tennessee has most potential in East Tennessee along the North Carolina border.[1] The state has not passed renewable portfolio standard legislation and there is just one utility-scale wind farm with 15 operating turbines[2] and previously 3 test turbines.[3] The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), based in Knoxville, imports wind-generated electricity into its service area which includes Tennessee. US Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee is an outspoken critic of wind power.[4]

2008 US Department of Energy wind power potential map of Tennessee

According to engineers at TVA none of the windmills is now generating power because of maintenance and mechanical issues.

  1. ^ American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) (September 2012). "Renewable Energy in Tennessee" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  2. ^ "State Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals". National Association of State Legislatures. February 19, 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  3. ^ "TVA: Buffalo Mountain wind farm access closed in November due to removal of turbines". wbir.com. November 2, 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  4. ^ Paul C. Barton, Gannett Washington Bureau (26 March 2013). "Wind blowing against Alexander's energy arguments". USA TODAY.