Project River: Power Plant - Yes; Data Center - Not Yet
Wright Brothers plans to build a 1,500-megawatt power plant in northern Bradley County, Tennessee, with a data center being one of several potential 'off takers' for the electricity. Developers are actively addressing resident concerns regarding power grid impact, water usage, and noise related to a potential data center or industrial facility. The power plant will utilize natural gas and biomass, with a closed-loop water system and no significant local grid or water system impact.
Wright Brothers is moving forward with "Project River," a plan to construct a 1,500-megawatt electrical power plant in northern Bradley County, Tennessee, on an 850-acre property. While the primary focus is on developing the power plant, the company has indicated that a data center is a strong contender to be an 'off taker' for the electricity generated, alongside advanced manufacturing or semiconductor fabrication facilities.
Mitchell Simpson, president and CEO of Wright Brothers, confirmed to the Cleveland Daily Banner that the power plant will consist of a 1,000-megawatt natural gas plant and a 500-megawatt biomass energy plant, with an additional 360-megawatt TVA grid connection for peaking and backup. Azure Energy is designing the facility. Simpson addressed local residents' objections regarding increased power bills, potential brownouts, and strain on the existing grid, stating that the project will create power "behind the meter" without impacting the current system.
The developers also allayed fears about water usage, explaining that the plant's design, particularly the biomass process, will generate more water than needed for a potential data center through a closed-loop system, avoiding reliance on the Hiwassee River or municipal supply. Concerns about noise pollution were addressed by the site's natural topography, which includes 80 to 100 feet of ridgeline to contain sound. The environmental impact was also discussed, with the plant utilizing clean-burning natural gas and a biomass process that converts wood chips into synthetic gas without burning, producing biochar and capturing carbon emissions. Timber for the biomass process will be sourced regionally, expected to revitalize the local timber industry.