TVA Hosts Second Environmental Forum for Electric Utility Industry

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Oct 03, 2011, 02:53 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many of the country's leading electric utilities participated in the second annual Environmental Forum, spearheaded by the Tennessee Valley Authority, on managing their environmental footprint and improving environmental operations.

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The Utility Environmental Benchmarking Forum, held in Nashville on Sept. 27-29, drew participants from throughout the United States and Canada. Utility representatives shared their experiences since last year's inaugural session in Chattanooga, discussed ways to measure that progress and ideas about best-in-class environmental activities.

"Participants at the 2010 and 2011 forums were enthusiastic about utility and energy companies working together to share best practices that will be cost effective and benefit the environment," said Anda Ray, TVA senior vice president of Environment and Technology.

"In addition to the 14 utilities that participated in the 2010 conference, we had 16 new companies participate this year," she said. "This event is no longer a 'TVA event' but has grown into one where all participants have ownership in getting the most value from this voluntary forum to exchange information and ideas."

Entergy, Florida Power & Light (NextEra Energy) and Constellation Energy joined TVA in leading a Forum Steering Committee, and all participants showed a keen interest in sharing their efforts to reduce the industry's environmental impact, Ray said.

"This year, the topics of social responsibility and investor perspectives were added as focus areas in response to participant input," she said.

Forum topics included defining a manageable electric utility footprint, reaching consensus on key environmental metrics, benchmarking based on established parameters and environmental management practices that may impact a company's operations.

Leading experts provided guidance in defining a utility's environmental footprint. Discussions revolved around such issues as air quality, climate change, renewable and clean energy, government regulations and compliance, land stewardship, natural resource management, waste minimization and water quality.

Forum participants were: AEP, Ameren, BC Hydro, Bonneville Power Administration, Con Edison, Constellation Energy, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Entergy, Exelon, FirstEnergy (including Allegheny Energy), Florida Power & Light (NextEra Energy), Hydro Quebec, Northeast Utilities, Oncor, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Portland General Electric, PPL, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), Salt River Project, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, Xcel and TVA.

More information about the Nashville Utility Environmental Benchmarking Forum can be found at www.utilityenvironmentalfootprint.com.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

SOURCE Tennessee Valley Authority