The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has paused two water permits for Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.’s (TGPC) proposed 245-MMcfd Cumberland Gas Pipeline, which would run through Dickson, Houston, and Stewart Counties, Tennessee. The pipeline was designed to serve the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) proposed 1,450-Mw Cumberland natural gas combined-cycle power plant.
The start of construction was imminent, and the stays—prompted by multiple legal actions taken by environmental groups—freeze activity until the court issues final rulings in 2025.
“The stay of these two permits, which postpones construction that was set to begin this week, vindicates the deep concerns of the Cumberland community about the safety of their local ecosystems. This pause is a crucial opportunity to rethink the risks of fossil fuel development and prioritize the health and environment of Cumberland and our region.” said Emily Sherwood, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Organizer.
TVA is in the process of retiring coal-fired generation, including a unit at Cumberland. TGPC’s 30-in. OD Cumberland Pipeline would extend 32 miles from its existing Lines 100-3 and 100-4 in Dickson County to a delivery point in Stewart County supplying the new combined-cycle plant, which TVA had expected to put into service in 2026 (OGJ Online, Jan. 23, 2024).
