Written by: JR Robinson

In a stunning move on March 27, President Donald Trump fired Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board Member Michelle Moore, a clean energy advocate appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021. The decision comes amid a heated debate over TVA’s future, fueled by Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty’s call for an aggressive push to build Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Critics argue that this combination of political interference and reckless nuclear expansion risks plunging TVA into financial turmoil reminiscent of its troubled nuclear past.

The termination of Moore, a nonprofit leader with expertise in clean energy, signals a hyper-partisan shift in TVA leadership at a time when the utility faces critical decisions about its energy strategy. As Blackburn and Hagerty champion unproven nuclear technology with little regard for cost or feasibility, the stakes for TVA ratepayers across seven states couldn’t be higher.

Trump’s Termination of Michelle Moore: A Partisan Power Play

Michelle Moore’s removal from the TVA Board marks a significant escalation in the politicization of the nation’s largest public utility. Appointed by Biden to bring transparency and clean energy expertise to TVA, Moore had been a vocal advocate for responsible energy planning and cost-effective solutions. Her firing comes just days after Blackburn and Hagerty published an op-ed urging TVA to fast-track SMR development, bypassing what they called “analysis paralysis.”

Dr. Stephen A. Smith, Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), condemned Trump’s decision as “hyper-partisan” and warned it could destabilize TVA leadership further. “This action weakens TVA’s ability to make sound decisions,” Smith said. “It sets the stage for reckless investments in unproven technologies that could burden ratepayers with billions in unnecessary costs.”

Moore’s dismissal raises questions about the future direction of TVA under increasing political pressure. Will it prioritize innovation and fiscal responsibility, or succumb to partisan agendas that ignore lessons from its past?

A History of Nuclear Overreach: Lessons from TVA’s Troubled Past

The Senators’ push for SMRs evokes memories of TVA’s nuclear ambitions in the 1960s and 1970s—a period marked by costly failures and incomplete projects. At the height of its nuclear expansion, TVA proposed building 17 reactors across Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Only seven were completed: three at Browns Ferry (Alabama), two at Sequoyah (Tennessee), and two at Watts Bar (Tennessee). The other ten reactors were abandoned mid-construction, leaving behind billions in debt that TVA customers are still paying off today.

The financial fallout from these failed projects was staggering. By the 1980s, TVA had amassed over $20 billion in debt, making it one of the most dramatic—and disastrous—nuclear expansions in U.S. history. Sites like Bellefonte (Alabama), Hartsville (Tennessee), and Yellow Creek (Mississippi) remain symbols of this era’s overreach.

Despite these hard-learned lessons, Blackburn and Hagerty seem eager to repeat history by pushing for SMRs without thorough cost analysis or consideration of alternatives like renewable energy. Their proposal ignores the risks of delays, cost overruns, and potential failure—risks that would ultimately fall on TVA ratepayers.

Small Modular Reactors: Innovation or Financial Gamble?

Small Modular Reactors are often touted as the future of nuclear energy due to their smaller size and potential flexibility. However, their economic viability remains highly uncertain. Reports consistently show that SMRs are not cost-competitive with renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Additionally, SMRs face significant regulatory hurdles and long construction timelines, meaning they are unlikely to provide near-term solutions to TVA’s energy needs.

Blackburn and Hagerty’s call for TVA to “lead the way” in an American nuclear revival hinges on unproven assumptions about SMR technology. Their op-ed likened this effort to NASA’s moon landing—a comparison critics have dismissed as misleading. Unlike NASA’s taxpayer-funded Apollo program, TVA operates on a budget funded by its customers. Any financial missteps in pursuing SMRs would directly impact utility bills across seven states.

Moreover, TVA has already demonstrated caution regarding SMRs in its most recent Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The utility chose not to prioritize SMRs due to their high costs and uncertain timelines—a decision applauded by many energy experts but now under fire from political leaders.

Current Challenges with TVA’s Nuclear Fleet

Even as Blackburn and Hagerty push for more nuclear investment, TVA’s existing fleet struggles with reliability issues. This past winter, three of TVA’s seven nuclear units—accounting for 42% of its nuclear capacity—were offline during peak demand periods. These outages forced TVA to import expensive electricity from neighboring utilities and led to widespread disruptions, including school closures in Hamilton County.

Critics argue that expanding nuclear reliance when current operations are unreliable is shortsighted at best and dangerous at worst. If TVA cannot maintain its existing reactors during critical periods, how can it justify investing billions in new nuclear projects that won’t come online for at least a decade?

The Cost to Ratepayers: Who Bears the Risk?

The ultimate question surrounding SMR development is who will bear the financial risk if these projects fail or face delays. Unlike private utilities that can pass costs onto shareholders, TVA is a public utility whose budget is funded by ratepayers throughout the Tennessee Valley. Any cost overruns or project failures would directly translate into higher utility bills for families and businesses.

This risk is not hypothetical; it is grounded in history. The unfinished reactors from TVA’s earlier nuclear expansion left customers paying off billions in debt—a burden that persists today. By advocating for SMRs without comprehensive financial analysis, Blackburn and Hagerty are effectively asking ratepayers to gamble on unproven technology.

Political Micromanagement Undermines Reform Efforts

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 restructured TVA leadership to reduce political interference by replacing its three-member full-time board with a nine-member part-time board led by a CEO. This change was intended to depoliticize decision-making at TVA and ensure accountability through professional management.

However, Blackburn and Hagerty’s proposal threatens to undo this progress by injecting hyperpartisan politics into TVA leadership decisions. Their call for an interim CEO focused solely on nuclear expansion disregards broader energy challenges facing the region—including integrating renewables, modernizing grid infrastructure, and addressing climate change.

Critics argue that micromanagement by politicians lacking expertise in energy policy undermines efforts to reform TVA responsibly. Instead of imposing one-dimensional solutions like SMRs, policymakers should focus on fostering transparency, stakeholder engagement, and long-term planning.

A Path Forward: Reform Without Recklessness

TVA undeniably needs reform to address 21st-century energy challenges effectively. Its current leadership has faced criticism for lacking transparency and failing to embrace innovative solutions like renewables or battery storage fully. However, reckless proposals like those from Blackburn and Hagerty are not the answer.

Responsible reform should prioritize:

• Comprehensive Cost Analysis: Evaluate all potential energy investments—including renewables—based on cost-effectiveness and feasibility.
• Transparency: Engage stakeholders across the Tennessee Valley to ensure decisions reflect public interest.
• Reliability: Focus on improving existing infrastructure before committing to new projects.
• Innovation: Explore emerging technologies cautiously while balancing financial risks.

By adopting these principles, TVA can chart a sustainable path forward without repeating the costly mistakes of its past.

The Wrap!

President Trump’s firing of Michelle Moore underscores the growing politicization of TVA at a critical juncture in its history. As Senators Blackburn and Hagerty push for an ill-advised nuclear expansion centered on Small Modular Reactors, they risk plunging America’s largest public utility into financial chaos once again.

TVA has an opportunity to lead on clean energy innovation—but only if it resists political pressure and prioritizes responsible planning over reckless ambition. For the millions of ratepayers who depend on affordable electricity across seven states, the stakes couldn’t be higher.