Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) began construction of the Allen Fossil Plant in 1956 with commercial generation beginning in 1959. The plant was named after Thomas H. Allen, a former president of MLGW. The TVA took over plant operations in 1964 as a lease with MLGW before buying the plant outright in 1984. Allen had a generating capacity of 741 MW.[1] TVA announced plans that Allen would be replaced with by the Allen Combined Cycle Plant, a natural gas plant, in order to reduce emissions by 2018 set by a 2011 agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[2] TVA shut down the plant on March 31, 2018.[3]
Environmental impact
Byproducts from Allen, known as coal combustion residuals (CCR), were deposited in the West Ash Impoundment. These residuals were known to contain arsenic. When the TVA released an environmental impact statement (EIS) of the impoundment in 2016, three options were generated to deal with approximately 250,000 cubic yards of CCR once the plant closed. Ultimately, the TVA opted for Alternative B. The CCR would remain in place in the impoundment, but modifications of the site would be made to minimize leachate escaping into the Mississippi River, local groundwater, and nearby McKellar Lake. Groundwater monitoring equipment would also be installed at the site.[4]
