Bull Run Fossil Plant in Tennessee slated for implosion

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is planning to implode the stacks at the Bull Run Fossil Plant in Clinton, Tennessee.

As reported by WVLT, TVA officials have requested that the public avoid the area for safety.

“Safety is a priority, and TVA is coordinating with multiple local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the implosion activities are safely completed,” a TVA statement says. “For the safety of the public and our team, access to the site will be strictly limited to authorized personnel only.”

A later update from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office provided more information about the plan. The office says the first tower will come down around sunrise and the second around noon. The office also says the nearby Claxton Community Park and Ballfields would close around 5 p.m. Friday, June 27.

“Nearby residents should expect brief bursts of loud noise when the structures come down. Please be mindful of pets and people that may be startled by the noise,” the office said.

The Bull Run Fossil Plant, more commonly known as the Bull Run Steam Plant, is a retired 889-megawatt coal-fired electric generating station, owned and operated by TVA. The plant is the only coal-fired power plant ever constructed by TVA with one unit and was retired on December 1, 2023.

TVA began studying whether to retire Bull Run in August 2018, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, with the board of directors voting to close the plant in February 2019. High operational costs and low capacity were factors in their decision.