TVA, Plus Power announce 20-year energy storage agreement in Jackson County

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Plus Power have announced a 20-year energy storage agreement for the development of a large-scale battery energy storage project in Jackson County, Alabama. The project, named Crawfish Creek Energy Storage, will feature a 200-megawatt / 800-megawatt-hour battery system. TVA selected this project through a competitive request for proposals issued in early 2025, aiming to secure new capacity resources for the Tennessee Valley region. Plus Power will develop and own the standalone system, with TVA responsible for managing its charging and dispatching capabilities. Monika Beckner, TVA vice president of power supply & fuels, emphasized the project's importance in "protecting the reliable, affordable electricity" needed for "next generation technologies" like data centers. Brian Duncan, chief commercial officer at Plus Power, highlighted the system's flexibility and speed in meeting the region's evolving energy needs. Construction is slated to commence in 2028, with commercial operations anticipated by summer 2029. The development is expected to generate 50 to 100 construction jobs and four permanent operational positions. This battery system is designed to store low-cost energy during off-peak hours and release it during high demand, providing crucial grid-forming capabilities and supporting industrial investments, including data centers, across North Alabama. The Crawfish Creek project is part of TVA’s broader strategy to add 6,200 megawatts of new generation capacity to address increasing electricity demand. This expansion also marks Plus Power's entry into its first Southeast market, adding to its portfolio of nine operational energy storage facilities across six other states.