RESOLUTION NO. RS2009-622

A resolution requesting the Tennessee Valley Authority not to pass the cost of cleanup for the Kingston Fossil Plant ash spill on to the ratepayers of Nashville and Davidson County.

WHEREAS, on December 22, 2008, a dike broke at the Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing over a billion gallons of toxic sludge covering approximately 300 acres of a rural residential neighborhood in up to nine feet of wet ash; and

WHEREAS, the cleanup costs associated with this disaster are sure to be staggering as a result of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s unwillingness to spend $25 million on the front end to prevent such a disaster; and

WHEREAS, TVA Chairman Bill Sansom recently stated that the utility’s nine million customers will be responsible for bearing the cost of the cleanup through increased electricity rates; and

WHEREAS, this ash spill comes less than three months after a twenty percent rate hike by TVA, which has been devastating for many low income households in Nashville; and

WHEREAS, increasing electricity rates to cover the costs of cleanup punishes the ratepayers for the negligent actions of TVA; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County that TVA find an alternative funding source for the ash spill cleanup costs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Tennessee Valley Authority not to pass the cost of cleanup for the Kingston Fossil Plant ash spill on to the ratepayers of Nashville and Davidson County.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to TVA Chairman William B. Sansom, to each member of the Tennessee Valley Authority, to each member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation, to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and to Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Walter Hunt, Rip Ryman, Duane Dominy, Parker Toler, Michael Craddock, Jim Gotto, Phil Claiborne