Nanette J. Malher 2200 Lockertsville Rd. / Ashland City, TN 37015 HelpUs@StopTVA.com / 615.630.4034
April 12, 2025
President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump, Recently, your friend and Tennessean John Rich posted on X.com: “Asking @doge to please look at The Tennessee Valley Authority. They are about to ransack Cheatham County, TN for absolutely no reason other than to spend billions of dollars, and let their buddies do all the work and make 10s of millions.” THOUSANDS OF TAX-PAYING AMERICANS IN CHEATHAM COUNTY, TN NEED YOUR HELP! John Rich is from Cheatham County and has family members who live here, including a brother who is a farmer. John posted his request to social media after reading the information found at www.StopTVA.org and understanding the reality the county is facing: • TVA is poised to build a 900-megawatt methane gas plant, pipeline, and transmission line project — from scratch — on 286 acres that are surrounded by hundreds of homes, five schools, and working century farms. • The site sits on top of the Sycamore Creek, which supplies 1.5 million gallons of water to Pleasant View and Ashland City, Tennessee residents daily. • The property is inaccessible via the current roadway system. In order to build the plant, TVA will spend extra millions of dollars to blast rock; destroy and rebuild roads and bridges; and take private property. Thousands will be forcibly displaced. Generational families will be pulled apart . TVA is a wasteful, out-of-control federal agency that has treated rural Americans with disdain and abuse throughout its history, though it was created to serve them. In 2025, TVA continues the legacy of stripping citizens of rights and property to serve electricity because “Nashville and Middle Tennessee need it.” TVA and Kinder Morgan (TVA’s gas partner) are currently suing landowners for access to properties, actions which will ultimately lead to eminent domain for a project that has yet to receive final “approval.” And whose approval will TVA receive? It’s own, as the federal agency works closely with the same third-parties and federal organizations year after year to obtain desired outcomes in its favor. America needs energy, but at what cost to American lives? TVA is the 4th largest landowner in the state with 293,000 acres, so TVA is capable of finding more efficient and less destructive ways to create and serve electricity within industrial areas that already exist. TVA’s actions are in direct opposition to your ideals and initiatives to protect hard-working Americans and family farms. We need a mandate to protect farm communities from unnecessary destruction by energy companies. Our state representatives tell us “It’s a federal issue.” Our federal representatives tell us “It’s a state issue.” PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE LOOKING OUT FOR US AT THIS TIME.
The county has offered to buy the land back. TVA will not respond. If there’s anything you can do to STOP TVA in Cheatham County, our lives depend on it. We thank you. Sincerely,
Please Visit this link for complete details: www.StopTVA.com
Nanette J. Malher HelpUs @ StopTVA.com
STOP TVA in CHEATHAM COUNTY
https://tinyurl.com/StopTVA to access supporting documents
RESOLUilON NO. za23- p
WHEREAS, the city councit for the Town of Ashland
City, TN has been made aware of the
proposed construction and operation of
a simple cycle combustion turbine plant and battery
energy storage system on approximately 285 acres county, Tennessee by Tennessee ValleyAuthority.
off of Lockertsville Road in cheatham Said land is zoned agricultgre; and
WHEREAS, severat citizens of Ashland city as well as cheatham county
have brought this to
the attention of the council along with their concerns as to environment, loss of their property, diminished property values, and Ashland City and Cheatham County; and
what effect tnit it may have on the
loss of the charm of
WHEREAS, little information was provided by Tennessee ValleyAuthority
about the
construction of the plant as well as the 12 mile pipeline that would
be part of the prqect at
their informational meeting; and
WHEREAS, the project will be using the area of Sycamore Creek which for the citizens of Cheatham County as wetl as this area is in close proximity to pleasant View Utility District main source of water that is used to serve the area of pleasant View with water; and WHEREAS, it is believed upon information provided that this plant, as proposed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, will be for the generation of power not for the citizens and businesses of Ashland City and Cheatham County but for Davidson County, Tennessee; and WHEREAS, the council is opposed to this project for the above reasons as stated above and the Council is concerned about irreparable harm to our community for the possible anticipated environmental impacts on; - Botany - Climate change and greenhouse gases - Cultural resources - Emergency planning - Floodplains - Geology and groundwater - Land use - Noise and vibration - Soilerosion and surface water - Socioeconomic-s and environmental justice is used as recreation
- Threatened and endangered species - Transportation
- Msual - Waste - Wetlands - \r/itdlife - Aquatics
City, Tennessee that the cycle Combustion Turbine of mostly forested land off of
A copy of this resolution shall be delivered to each of the requesting their opposition to this project.
following with a letter via US Mail
William Kilbride, Chairman, Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Jeff Lyash, Chief Executive Officer, Tennessee Valley 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902
Honorable Bill Lee Governor, State of Tennessee State Capitol, 1st Floor 600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Nashville, TN 37243 Honorable Marsha Blackburn United States Senator 357 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Honorable Bill Hagerty United States Senator 251 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Honorable Mark Green United States Congressman 2446 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Kerry Roberts Tennessee State Senator 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N Suite 730 Cordell Hull Bldg. Nashviile, TN 37243 Honorable Mary Littleton Tennessee State Representative 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N Suite 632 Cordell Hull Bldg. Nashvitte, TN 37244 Honorable Kerry McCarver lVlayor, Cheatham County, TN 100 Public Square Ashland City, TN 37015 Honorable Bill Anderson lVlayol Pleasant View, TN 1008 Civic Court, P. O. Box 127 Pleasant View, TN 37146 Honorable Tony Gross lVlayor, Kingston Springs, TN 396 Spring Street Kingston Springs, TN 37082 Honorable John Louallen Mayor, Pegram, TN 308 Hwy 70 EasUlakeview Drive Pegram, TN 37143
J. Taylor Johnson N EPA Compliance Specialist 1101 Market Street, BR 2C-C Chattanooga, TN 37402
the Cheatham CountY Exchange
Additionally, a copy of this resolution shall be published i and on the Town of Ashland City website and Facebook Duly passed and approved this the latv of July'
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City Recorder oJ ^u { l^- - ).)
i v!-,(./ \r\_)
J. T.
NOTE: This letter was unanimously approved by the Cheatham County GOP in our public meeting on 2/25/2025 and approved to be sent to our elected officials on behalf of the member citizens of Cheatham County, Tennessee.
We, the members of the Grand O Party ( GOP ) in Cheatham County, TN, seek your immediate assistance as our government official, duly elected by The People of Cheatham County, to represent us in all matters.
Taxpaying homeowners and farmers in Cheatham County (pop. 45,000) are facing the loss of personal property and/or displacement due to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s plans to construct a 900-megawatt methane gas plant on 286 acres of farmland on Lockertsville Rd. in Ashland City, TN. The plant will include: *14 turbines *10.5 acres of lithium battery storage *Diesel fuel storage tanks, fuel oil storage tanks *Eight miles of new gas pipelines *Many miles of massive new transmission towers/lines throughout Cheatham and Robertson Counties
TVA’s actions are in direct opposition to the ideals and initiatives of President Donald Trump and his administration. On February 11, 2019, President Trump used Twitter to convey his sentiments concerning TVA’s plans to close coal plants:
”Coal is an important part of our electricity generation mix and @TVAnews should give serious consideration to all factors before voting to close viable power plants . . . “
TVA consistently touts Green Energy and Net-Zero Carbon programs. However, it is using the volunteer closure of coal plants to justify building many more “replacement” methane gas plants across Tennessee. In addition, TVA is facilitating unscrupulous strategies such as lawsuits or threats of lawsuits towards YOUR Cheatham County taxpayers for OUR private property! TVA has no oversight, and as one who has been elected to represent Conservative causes, we implore you: Share our county’s plight with President Trump and his energy department to highlight TVA’s destruction and corruption and to stop TVA from moving forward with this project in Cheatham County. The negativ e impacts of TVA’s “proposed” project cannot be rela yed in one letter, which is why we need you help!!! Th e deadline for TVA’s final Environmental Impact Statement is the fall of 2025. Needless to say, the credibility of TVA and this impact statement cannot be trusted. The lives and livelihoods of your constituents deserve your utmost concern and assertiveness. As our local elected official, w e are requesting you contact our Congressional and Senatorial representatives along with Governor Lee, and help us with this battle. If we join our voices together, we can be heard on a level the TVA can not ignore. We have their contact info if nee ded. We are inviting you to respond via email or in person at our next meeting on March 18 th (6pm @ Que’d Up in Pleasant View), and we eagerly await you r plan of action.
Respectfully,
Cheatham County GOP Perry Keenan-Chairman
TVA 5 MILE RADIUS: 5.00
TVA TO SCHOOL MILES: 3.99 TVA TO SCHOOL MILES: 4.01
TVA TO SCHOOL MILES: 3.57
SYCAMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL
TVA TO SCHOOL MILES: 2.40
SYCAMORE HIGH SCHOOL
TVA TO SCHOOL MILES: 1.91
WEST CHEATHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TVA PROPOSED POWER PLANT
TVA 5 MILE RADIUS: 5.00
TVA 5 MILE RADIUS: 5.00
PVUD DRINKING WATER INTAKE
CHEATHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL
CHEATHAM COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
CHEATHAM COUNTY
TVA TO COURT HOUSE MILES: 4.48
COURT HOUSE
TVA 5 MILE RADIUS: 5.00
TVA 5 MILE RADIUS: 5.00
NORTH
TVA’s wasteful scheme to sit methane power plant miles from delivery source Consider Alternative Methane Plant Locations = Significant cost reduction
Waste compared to Savings Alternative land availability .................................. 1 Number of Homes Affected ............................. 2, 3 Topographical challenges ............................... 4, 5 Roads rated to haul heavy loads .................... 6, 7 Bridges rated to haul heavy loads................. 8, 9 Evaluation of rail bridge strength ................. 10,11 Plan to construct rail gantry to move equipment to trucks & trailers ................................ 12, 13, 14 Powerline distances, cost more .................. 15, 16 Ample & limited water resources ............... 17, 18 Industrial resources ......................... 19, 20, 21, 22 Flooding causes loss ................................... 23, 24
The TVA’s willingness to unnecessarily spend literally millions upon millions on the Cheatham location defies all levels of common-sense, reason and efficiency. The TVA owes Americans an account of their Waste, Accountability and lack of Self-Regulation. This visual Report highlights the pros of choosing a better plant location and cons of using the proposed TVA’s rural Cheatham County location. Sitting this plant in rural Cheatham is fiscally irresponsible and totally impractical. The proposed TVA Cheatham methane plant is yet an- other example of an out-of-control federal agency that needs “Governmental Oversight” with immediate scru- tiny for Waste, Accountability, Corruption and Abuse.
AVAILABLE ACREAGE Impact: Minimal to family, envi- ronment, & health. Significant savings to TVA in all aspects
Alternative Location - Address 4mi span from 5106 Old Hickory Blvd. to Briley Parkway on Ashland City Hwy. There is approximatley 4,259.84 sparsely populated available acres , the majority is unpopulated.
4,259.84 available acres Approximately 4sq.mi area
Inset shows example of proposed TVA Cheatham land to scale in compari- son to alternative location where thousands of emp- ty acres are available
286 acres
Old Hickory Blvd.
Briley Parkway
Ashland City Highway
page 1
HOMES AFFECTED - Impact: Minimal 20 homes in 4mi span compared to Cheatham site almost 500 homes
Alternative Location - Address 4mi span from 5106 Old Hickory Blvd. to Briley Parkway on Ashland City Hwy.
Small subdivision entrance access on the East side of Briley Parkway, (Hwy. 155)
20 homes, 5 businesses in 4mi span of Ashland City Hwy. with road frontage
Old Hickory Blvd.
Briley Parkway
Ashland City Highway
page 2
HOMES/FARMS AFFECTED Impact: Significant to families, incomes, health, clean water
Proposed Location - Address intersection of Lockertsville Rd. & Macon Wall Rd . South to Syca- more Creek, Ashland City, TN
2mi
467 HOMES/FARMS
Over 1,000 people adversely affected
76
1mi
HOMES/FARMS
1/5mi
26
HOMES/FARMS
TVA Property
2 mi. radius - 467 homes/farms 1 mi. radius - 76 homes/farms 1/2 mi. radius - 25 homes/farms
2 mi. radius - two schools 5 mi. radius - 5 schools
page 3
Grading/Excavation Cost Impact: Minimal excavation needed
Alternative Location - sparse elevation levels of 600ft over the 4,259.84 acres. The Proposed 286 acre site is mostly all at 400ft - 600ft elevations
600 ft. level
4,259.84 acres
The Ashland City’ Highway’s road frontage has no elevations of 600ft to 400ft in the 4 mile span. Elevations increase as the property depths reach back about the 1 mile point and beyond. Less grading and dynamite needed here to reach road level grade.
page 4
Proposed Location - Elevation of 600’ will require blasting to grade 100’
600 ft. level
High Elevations of 600 ft. are very common in this area of Cheatham. Homes can be built at this level but heavy industrial plants are built at road level of 100’. The road/creek level here is 100’. extensive dynamite blasting and grading would have to be done to reach grade level. Millions of tons of rock would need to be hauled from this site. Land disruption such as this can cut off many, many homes using well and spring water , their only fresh water source in this area.
page 5
ROAD VIABILITY Cost Impact: None, cost effective for immediate use
Alternative Location - Ashland City Hwy. & Briley Parkway - Roads, ramps and bridges are built for heavy duty use
Rated “Class 8” for high frequency and heavy truck weight 33,000lb
Typical types of vehicles traveling Ashland City Hwy. and Briley Parkway
These two highways are rated “Class 8” truck weight , vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rat- ing (GVWR) 33,000 pounds. TDOT rates roads for strength, frequency used, safety, drainage and weight of vehicles using the roads.
page 6
ROAD VIABILITY Cost Impact: “Cost prohibitive & Non-viable location” * This quote is from the Barnhart Report page 14. PDF link
Proposed Location - Lockertsville & Macon Wall Rds. Narrow country roads with strength/weight limita- tions class 1 & 2 may require new access roads
Cheatham location, narrow lanes, extremely curvey rated 1 or 2 resi- dential
Typical vehicles farm equipment, pick up trucks, hay wagons, residential traffic, school buses, delivery and mail services.
New roads with higher rating may need to be built, or altered to straighten out sharp curves. Heavy trucks hauling building materials, turbines, furnaces, plant equipment, dump trucks are expect- ed to frequently run on these roads.
page 7
BRIDGE VIABILITY Cost Impact: No additional cost ready for immediate use
Alternative Location - Ashland City Hwy. & Briley Parkway - Roads, ramps and bridges are built for heavy duty use Class 8.
Briley Parkway/Ashland City Hwy. exit bridges and ramps are rated GVWR to exceed 33,000 pounds
6
These bridges and ramps are rated “Class 8” for truck weight , vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) 33,000 pounds. TDOT rates roads for strength, frequency used, safety, drainage and weight of vehicles using the roads. page 8
BRIDGE VIABILITY Cost Impact: TBD by TDOT to strengthen bridges
Proposed Location - 4 local bridges are on the “11mi Haul Route” - bridges and culverts are identified in the Barhart Report as needing inspection by TDOT to deter- mind if safe for extra heavy vehichles.
* See Barnhart Report pages 7.8.& 9 PDF link
Veterans Bridge over Marrowbone Creek
Dry Creek Bridge
Marks Creek Bridge
Sycamore Creek Bridge
The haul route definition describes how the plant machin - ery, turbines, furnaces, and construction materials for the plant will be transported from the dead-end rail line to the proposed plant location. •Thompson RD to Hwy 12
Haul Route 11mi All bridges will require bridge analysis by TN- DOT bridge engineers. Dual lane transporter configurations will be required.
•Hwy 12 north to SR455 (Tenn. Waltz PKW) •SR445 around Ashland city back to Hwy12 •Hwy 12 to Macon Wall RD •Macon Wall RD North to Lockersville RD •Lockertsville South to site entrance.
page 9
RAIL BRIDGE VIABILITY Cost Impact: TBD by RJ Corman to strengthen old wooden truss bridges in order to carry extremely heavy power equipment to end of rail line in Ashland City then offload to location 11 miles away
Current Location - in order to reach the first leg of the 11mi “Haul Route” - extensive inspection of rail bridges not capable of supporting the anticipated weight of TVA power equipment on rail cars will need to be reinforced or rebuilt
One geneator weighs 520,000lb or 260 tons
RJ Corman rail bridge located at Old Hickory and Ashland City Hwy.
A spokesman for RJ Corman indicated his primary concern is the weight of the power equipment as the railroad has several old wood truss bridges be- tween Nashville and Ashland City. He suggested having a rail clearance sub- mitted ASAP this will allow their engineers the opportunity to review the weights crossing these bridges and look at the clearances.
* See Barnhart Report page 2 PDF link
page 10
RAIL BRIDGE VIABILITY, TVA EXPECTATIONS Cost Impact: Millions (TBD) by RJ Corman to inspect and reinforce rail culverts and old wooden trestles in a 17 mile span from Bordeaux spur to Ashland City
Overhead wooden trestle Whites Creek
Bordeaux bridge and trestle
Current Location - TVA plan calls for millions of tons of heavy equip- ment be hauled by rail - in the current condition the existing rail bridges and culverts cannot support this extreme weight. TVA expects Corman to inspect, evaluate and rebuild all culverts and rail bridges incapa- ble of supporting the anticipated weight of their power equipment to be hauled on rail cars.
Whites Creek trestle street view
Rail bridge located at 4225 Ashland City Hwy. Nashville
Rail crosses approx. 15 streets with culverts and 4 old wooden bridges
* See Barnhart Report page 2 PDF link
page 11
EQUIPMENT MOVED FROM RAIL LINE TO TRUCKS Cost Impact: Extreme, using exist- ing gantry at the Cumberland in- dustrial area would save money
Proposed Location - Elaborate gantry system will have to be built - at the dead end rail line in Cheatham Co. con- structed over the rail car hauling heavy equip- ment in order to transfer to truck/trailers
One Generator weighs 520,000lb Haul Route 11mi
* See Barnhart Report page 15 PDF link
page 12
EQUIPMENT MOVED BY TRUCKS/DOLLY/SUSPENSION TRANSPORTERS Cost Impact: Extreme expense to transport equipment, roads/bridges not rated to carry extreme weight
Current Location - Macon Wall & Lockertsville Rd. & Saddle Tree - Narrow country roads with strength/weight limita- tions class 1 & 2 may require new access road
Total weight of transport & load 888,750lb
Curves
* See Barnhart Report page 16 PDF link
page 13
EQUIPMENT MOVED BY TRUCKS/DOLLY/SUSPENSION BEAM TRANSPORTERS Cost Impact: Unreasonable ex- pense to transport equipment
Current Location - Macon Wall & Lockertsville Rd. & Saddle Tree - Narrow country roads with strength/weight limita- tions class 1 & 2 may require new access road Total weight of transport & load 1,333,795lb - 666,897 tons
Haul Route 11mi
The haul route definition describes how the plant ma- chinery, turbines, furnaces, and construction materials for the plant will be trans- ported from the dead-end rail line to the proposed plant location. •Thompson RD to Hwy 12 •Hwy 12 north to SR455 (Tenn. Waltz PKW) •SR445 around Ashland city back to Hwy12 •Hwy 12 to Macon Wall RD •Macon Wall RD North to Lockersville RD •Lockertsville South to site entrance.
24-Dolly Suspension Beam Transporter
* See Barnhart Report page 17 PDF link
page 14
TOWERS/POWER LINES Cost: Minimal cost to TVA and customers instead of rural Cheatham site
Alternative Location - Ashland City Hwy. to West Nashville TVA Substation • Gold line - 3mi direct route between Ashland City Hwy. and Briley Parkway to theTVA West Nashville Substation, 1021 63rd Ave. North, Nashville, TN
3 miles To TVA Substation
These towers are already at this location
TVA Substation is delivery point for the proposed TVA Methane plant
page 15
TOWERS/POWER LINES Cost: Significant expense from remote rural location
Proposed Location - Power Line Route From Sandy Springs running to 1021 63rd Ave. North, Nashville, TN, West Nashville TVA Substation
Enlargment: approximate location of Cheatham property in relation to the TVA map
TVA Property
According to TVA maps if this route from the current location is used it would need approximately 51 miles of additional towers and powerlines, in some cases towers side by side all with 100ft plus ground clearance for each requiring more land seized by eminent domain
LEGEND published from maps provided by TVA on 7/10 2024
Purple L5810 - Alternative Route Yellow L5165 - Alternative Route Red L5689 - Alternative Route –– Black lines - Existing TVA lines Black triangles - existing stations < Blue square - Proposed Cheatham Substation < Red square - Loop Point Alternative –– Light pink lines - Existing 500KV ROW - (carries 1,000 too 1,500 Megawatts, for about 1.5 M homes < White box with thick black lines - Proposed ROW (Right of Way) ? < White box with thin black lines - Affected Tax Parcels
51 miles to TVA substation
page 16
Ample Water Source Affect: Abundant water from Cum- berland River for cooling. Many TVA power plants are located by rivers
Alternative Location - Ashland City Hwy. the Alternative location on Ashland City is directly across the street from the Cum- berland River , the principle water supply for Davidson County, Nashville and other cities.
Ashland City
Allen, TN
Gallatin, TN
Cumberland River
Colbert, AL
Johnsonville, TN
The proposed TVA Methane power plant is calculated to require an estimated, 4,500,000 gal of water - monthly usage
page 17
Clean Water Source Affect: Starve this communi- ty of their only clean drinking water source
Proposed Location - Sycamore Creek Pleasant View Water Utility has 6,595 customers, each using 4,530 gal monthly, pumping an additional 150,000 gallons of water daily will deplete the drinking water supply for this community.
Estimated TVA monthly 4 million, 500,000 gal monthly
Resident use 4,530 gal monthly
1,000 Xs more
page 18
INDUSTRIAL PROXIMITY Cost Impact: Optimal savings to RAIL SERVICE
Alternative Location - Distance to rail line access • 1,096 feet or .21 mi. Green line , to RJ Corman rail line across the Ashland City Hwy.
North/West side of Ashland City Hwy.
1,096ft to Rail line access to and from Nashville
Approximately 1,096ft from the Ashland City Hwy. location to Rail line service to and from Nashville. According to Barnhart Report TVA intends to deliver turbines, furnaces and power equipment to the dead end rail line in Ashland City, build a gantry system to offload and transport via truck/trailers over inadequate country roads and bridges.
page 19
INDUSTRIAL PROXIMITY Cost Impact: Optimal savings to RIVER BARGE PORT
Alternative Location - Distance to River Barge Port • 2,768 feet or .5.2 mi. Red line , across the Ashland City Hwy.
North/West side of Ashland City Hwy.
2,768ft to Barge port access to the Cumberland River
Approximately 2,768ft from the Ashland City Hwy. location to Cumberland River Barge Port. Benefit to access to river barge ports are shipping and receiving of building commodaties such as sand, rock, concrete, other building materials even heavy equipment shipping to the plant.
page 20
INDUSTRIAL PROXIMITY Cost Impact: Optimal savings to RIVER WATER ACCESS
Alternative Location - Distance to River to provide turbine cooling • 3,193 feet or .6 mi. Blue line , across Ashland City Hwy.
North/West side of Ashland City Hwy.
3,193ft to Cumberland River access provides ample water for turbine, furnace cooling
Approximately 3,193ft from the Ashland City Hwy. to access water from the Cumberland River. Benefit to river water access could use water supply to cool turbines and other power equipment at plant instead of proposed location Sycamore Creek which is inadequate water supply and is the only clean water source for thousands of people in Cheatham County
page 21
INFASTRUCTURE SUPPORT Cost Impact: Optimal Savings to construction materials
Alternative Location - Distance to I-3 Zoned Heavy Industry Businesses 1,000ft - Across Ashland City Hwy.
4,286.86 acre available space North/West side of Ashland City Hwy.
Available in 1,000ft •rail line service •barge port access •river water access •building material com- panies •concrete plant, sand & rock supply •Siskin Steel Supply, 1mi away •other industrial support materials •Metro landfill
1,000 ft. to existing I-3 zoned Industrial area
Approximately 1,000ft from the Hwy. 12/Hwy. 155 location to existing I-3 zoned Industrial Area, industrial support businesses are: • John W. McDougall • C J Mulch • Allied Crawford • Hailey’s Harbor • Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete • RJ Corman rail service • Siskin Steel & Supply
page 22
Proposed Location - Sycamore Creek February 15, 2025 , f lash f looding covered miles of roads and farmland in the Lockertsville, Harristown, and Macon Wall Road areas. During planting and growing season this would destroy millions of dollars of crops and income for area farmers.
Rainfall runoff causes flooding Affect: heavy rainfall in Cheatham Co. results in area flooding
TVA Land
Sycamore Creek during flooding
page 23
Rain roof/slab runoff increases flooding - Affect: 75 to 100 acre plant increases normal runoff of groundwater normally mostly absored during average rainfalls
TVA Land
Lockertsville and Harristown Rds. Sycamore Creek’s extensive flooding Feb. 15, 2025
130,802,391gal additional runoff
page 24
www.barnhartcrane.com
Cheatham County Transport Study to Support Delivery of Power Equipment
Barnhart Route Study Prepared for:
Robert Kulisek
PROJECT CONTACTS
Barnhart
TVA
Tim Fielder Project Sales tfielder@barnhartcrane.com 901-270-1226
Robert Kulisek Senior Project Manager rkulisek@tva.gov 423-902-6038
Route Study Contents
1. PURPOSE OF ROUTE STUDY
2. RAIL CAR DELIVERY LOCATIONS
3. RAILCAR DISCHARGE DSCHARGE DRAWING
4. HAUL ROUTES
5. POWER EQUIPMENT TRANSPORT DRAWINGS
6. CONCLUSION
1. PURPOSE OF ROUTE STUDY
1.1 To identify potential rail car off-loading locations to receive the power equipment free on-board delivering rail cars as near the Cheatham County site as possible. 1.2 To identify any civil improvements required to discharge the cargo from rail car. 1.3 Provide hauling diagrams showing the required turning radius, width & height requirements, and ground bearing loadings for transportation of the power equipment from the rail car discharge location to the Cheatham County site. 1.4 Identify any obstacles on the proposed haul routes from the rail car offloading locations to the Cheatham County site. 1.5 To determine what governing authorities will be required from governing entities for the transportation of the equipment from the rail car discharge locations to the Cheatham County site.
2. RAIL CAR DELIVERY LOCATIONS
Barnhart identified Ashland City TN as the closest rail served city to the Cheatham County site. Ashland City is served by a short line railroad owned by the RJ Corman Railroad Group. Barnhart discussed the project with Grant Chaney, Director of Commercial Development for RJ Corman. Mr. Chaney indicated his primary concern is the weight of the power equipment as the railroad has several old wood truss bridges between Nashville and Ashland City. Mr. Chaney suggested having a rail clearance submitted ASAP this will allow their engineers the opportunity to review the weights crossing these bridges and look at the clearances.
2
Barnhart identified 3 industries that are currently shipping or receiving products by rail car in Ashland City and meet with each facilities operations manager. • Arcosa Marine • Gate Precast • Strategic Materials Arcosa Marine and Gate Precast facility rail spurs were deemed NOT VIABLE. These facilities spurs were short and designed to accommodate their operations and do not have room for gantry erection or transporter egress. Any improvements that would allow rail car off loading of the power equipment would be extremely costly and would impede the facilities day to day operations. The Strategic Materials facility is a viable option. Barnhart met with David Sharp, Assist. Plant Manager and discussed the equipment’s discharge. David indicated the plant typically gets two rail cars shifted in once a week, pulling two empty cars out and pushing two full cars in. These switches generally happen on Tuesday or Thursday. David indicated that if the deliveries could be coordinated as not to interfere with his operations, the plant will consider allowing the cars to off load in the plant.
The yellow area below is the area where we would off load if unloading inside the plant. While discharge in the yellow area is feasible, the area is congested and would be a hindrance to the plant.
3
In discussions with RJ Corman “Grant Chaney” we believe a better solution is to use either the lead in track to Strategic Materials or the end of the main line just beyond the lead in track. (See below)
The dead end of the main line shown below.
Offloading at the dead end of the main line will require some civil improvement for Gantry erection. Installing compacted fill on both the north and south sides of the track.
4
WE believe this to be the best option as equipment deliveries would not interfere with the Tuesday and Thursday switches into Strategic Materials. Also there appears to be room to push empty cars forward allowing multiple rail cars delivering at a time.
Lead in track to Strategic Materials shown below.
The Strategic Materials lead in track will not require as significant an improvement, only matting. As previously stated, deliveries would have to be coordinated as not to interfere with Strategic Materials operations.
5
3. RAILCAR DISCHARGE DSCHARGE DRAWING
The gantry shown below is a “ Side Shift Set Up ” the lift system is superimposed over the Strategic Metals lead in track. The dimensional requirements will be the same regardless of what location is chosen.
This gantry set up represents worst case scenario and a smaller gantry set up may prove viable after the transporter configuration is identified and approved by the TNDOT.
6
4. HAUL ROUTES
The haul route shown to the right is the shortest potential route.
The route starts at the end of RJ Corman main line at Thompson RD in Ashland City
Thompson RD to Hwy 12 Hwy 12 north to SR455 (Tenn. Waltz PKW) SR445 around Ashland city back to Hwy12 Hwy 12 to Macon Wall RD Macon Wall RD north to Lockersville RD Lockersville south to site entrance.
The above route is approximately 11 miles
This route will be governed by: • The City of Ashland City o Thompson RD • TNDOT
o Hwy12 o SR455
Cheatham County o Macon Wall
•
o Lockersville RD
As with all heavy transport projects bridges are the governing authority’s primary concern. In Tennessee there is also 40,000lbs per line axle rule for pavement.
There are no bridges on Thompson RD and only one box culvert on Macon wall that can be jumped if required.
On the Hwy 12 and SR 455 section our survey encountered the following bridge structures.
7
4.1 Bridges
Vietnam Veterans Bridge over Marrowbone Creek 180’ foot multiple span bridge
DRY CREEK BRIDGE 650’ foot multiple span bridge
8
MARKS CREEK BRIDGE 115’ fo ot bridge
SYACAMORE CREEK BRIDGE 350’ foot multiple span bridge
All bridges will require bridge analysis by TNDOT bridge engineers. Dual lane transporter configurations will be required.
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4.2 Macon Wall & Lockersville RD
Macon Hill Rd only has one small culvert, this structure may pass analysis due to the short span, plating the culvert may also be an option or the structure can be jumped using a ramping system.
The primary problem with both Macon Wall and Lockersville RD will be the road width (16’ feet) with no medium, and tight turns. Tree trimming will also be required in several locations. (see following pics)
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As the previous pictures show, there is no medium to these county roads. The minimum width for a dual lane transporter is 16 feet as you will see in the examples of Dual Lane Transporters in the next section of this survey. This is critical, the Dual Lane Transporter that will be required to cross bridges may not be able to navigate the route on the Macon Wall and Lockersville portion of the haul route or the cost of making the haul route improvements will be cost prohibitive.
Our survey also shows that the required turn radius improvements will certainly encroach on private property and require approvals and agreements with private landowners.
Traffic control is also a factor as no other traffic will be able to travel the road when the load is on Macon Wall and Lockersville. A traffic control plan approved and assisted by State Troopers and County Sheriffs will be a requirement. Another option to navigate Macon Wall and Lockersville Rd may be to trans-load the cargo from a Dual L ane Transporter to a 10’ foot wide Self-Propelled transporter once on County Roads and off Hwy 12. This trans-load operation would require a significant amount of real-estate. Our current survey did not find a good location for a trans-load operation.
4.3 Alternate County Routes Saddie Tree RD Route This route also has a 16-foot-wide road base with no medium.
This route may have fewer turn radius issues, but several will be required.
As previously stated, the turn radius improvements will encroach on private property and will require approvals from Cheatham County and the landowners.
A detailed traffic control plan will be a requirement.
Extensive Tree trimming will also be required.
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Lockersville RD Route
This route also has a 16-foot-wide road base with no medium.
This route is the most problematic due to two narrow old bridges. It is highly doubtful any transport configuration would pass engineering analysis.
This is also the route that would require the most turn improvements and tree trimming.
The route also has significant grade charges.
Based on our experience and the availability of other potential routes, I would deem this route as not viable or at a minimum cost prohibitive.
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5. TRANSPORT DRAWINGS
TNDOT will require some configuration of a “ Dual Lane Transporter” to cross the bridges on HWY 12. The exact configuration will not be known until TNDOT Bridge engineers evaluate each structure. Use of a Dual Lane Transporter is not a guarantee of a permit approval. Some bridges just do not have the capacity to hold these types of MEGA-LOADS. In some cases, bridge shoring must be installed, on shorter spans jumper ramps may be an option, in some cases using a suspension beam transporter and using various crab steer techniques are required to gain approvals. TNDOT usually does their own bridge analysis, however on some past projects TNDOT has allowed Barnhart to bring in 3 rd party bridge engineers specializing in Bridge analysis to prepare evaluations for TNDOT Bridge engineers review and approvals. Barnhart cannot emphasize enough that bridges can be very problematic and finding solutions to these problems can take months working with Bridge engineers. The solutions can be very expensive to overcome. We highly recommend investing the resources to identify and resolve these issues far ahead of the project to mitigate cost escalations at time of execution.
The following are examples of Dual Lane Transporters used on past projects to get these MEGA-LOAS across bridges.
Example #1- 18-line axle THP with Dolly Wing Extensions
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2 nd Example Required Turn Radius
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3 rd Example 20-Dolly Suspension Beam Transporter
24-Dolly Suspension Bean Transporter
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Example Crab Steering
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6. Conclusion
Barnhart recommends off loading the power equipment at the dead end of the RJ Corman track in Ashland City TN. Off-loading at this location will not interfere with any service to other customers served by RJ Corman Railroad. Civil improvements for gantry erection and off loading will be minimal. The primary concern with rail deliveries of the equipment will be the wood truss bridges on RJ Corman tracks between Nashville and Ashland City. Barnhart strongly suggest a clearance file be open as soon as possible to allow RJ Cormans engineers the opportunity to evaluate these bridge structures. This is a CRITICAL HIGH-RISK ISSUE. Transporting from Ashland City to site will require some configuration of a “ DUAL LANE TRANSPORTER ” to cross bridges on Hwy 12. The exact transport configuration can not be determined without hauling application submittal to TNDOT and the others governing authorities.
On similar projects working with TNDOT it has taken 3 to 6 months in collaboration of independent bridge engineering firms to find a solution to crossing these bridges.
Overhead wires and signal arms will also have to be raised along the route, these improvements should be a minimal cost, requiring bucket truck assistance from the local utility, phone, and traffic signal owners. Once off Hwy 12 Barnhart believes the “ Saddie Tree Route ” to be the most viable route due to this route having the fewest turn radius issues. Radius improvements will be required; however, the extent of these improvements can only be estimated once the transport configuration is identified.
The radius improvements will most likely encroach on private property requiring the cooperation and approvals of the landowners.
Tree trimming and line lifting will also be required on the county roads.
These secondary roads will be governed by Cheatham County.
As stated, transferring the power equipment to a SPMT or narrow gage transporter after leaving HW 12 may prove a viable and cost-effective solution. Barnhart did not identify an area to support this type transload operation while performing our survey. We believe if the 18-line axle THP with Dolly wig extensions will pass Bridge analysis on Hwy 12, there may be an opportunity to remove the dollies and the extension beams after turning on Saddie Tree road. We believe this to be a BEST CASE SENERIO. As the road would be closed to traffic for the transport this would allow us time to remove the beams and dollies prior to traveling on Saddie Tree rd.
This would also eliminate having to off load the power equipment form the transporter and thus reduce risk.
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RIGH RISK ISSUES: •
Wood Truss Bridges on RJ Corman RR • Bridges on Hwy 12 • Narrow road width on secondary county roads • Encroachment on private property.
We hope you have found this level 1 survey useful. We encourage TVA to open the rail clearance file as soon as possible.
We also stand ready to help TVA to work through the issues with TNDOT and Cheatham County. As stated, this will be a time-consuming process and require engineering support.
Thank you for allowing Barnhart to support TVA in this New Build Opportunity.
Tim Fielder Barnhart Crane tfieldr@barnhartcrane.com 901-270-1226
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Barnhart TVA Road Report - Cheatham County, TN
A Synopsis of the Full BARNHART TVA Road Study
Option 1 – 11 Miles:
Highway 12 to Tennessee Waltz Parkway and around to Highway 12 again. Highway 12 north to Macon Wall Road , then south on Lockertsville Road to the proposed site. Study’s Primary Concerns: • Narrow road width of Macon Wall and Lockertsville Roads (road is 16’ wide, dual lane transporters minimum width is 16’); • Tight turns (“shows that the required turn radius improvements will certainly encroach on private property…”); • Tree trimming/remova l in several locations
Option 2 – 11+ Miles (only possibly viable route as noted by the study author) :
Highway 12 to Tennessee Waltz Parkway and around to Highway 12 again. Highway 12 north to Saddle Tree Road , then east on Lockertsville Road to the proposed site. • Narrow road width of Lockertsville Road (road is 16’ wide, dual lane transporters minimum width is 16’); • Tight turns – fewer turn radius issues, but several will be required. All would encroach on private property and will require approvals from landowners and Cheatham County. • Extensive tree trimming/removal in several locations.
Option 3 (not viable or likely, cost prohibitive) :
Highway 12 to Tennessee Waltz Parkway and around to Highway 12 again. Highway 12 north to Lockertsville Road.
This route is identified as the most problematic due to two narrow old bridges, the most turn improvements and tree trimming, and significant grade changes; • Narrow road width of Lockertsville Road (road is 16’ wide, dual lane transporters minimum width is 16’); • Tight turns (“ shows that the required turn radius improvements will certainly encroach on private property… ”);
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Barnhart TVA Road Report - Cheatham County, TN
• Tree trimming/removal in several locations
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OVERALL TAKEAWAY for the POSSIBLY VIABLE ROUTE (Option 2)
HIGH RISK ISSUES: • Wood Truss Bridges on RJ Corman RR • Bridges on Hwy 12 • Narrow road width on secondary county roads • Encroachment on private property
Once off Hwy 12, Barnhart believes the “Saddie Tree Route” [ this is not the correct road name, it should read “Saddle Tree”] to be the most viable route due to this route having the fewest turn radius issues. Radius improvements will be required ; however, the extent of these improvements can only be estimated once the transport configuration is identified. “The radius improvements will most likely encroach on private property requiring the cooperation and approval of the landowners.” [NOTE: Option 2 will cost many more millions of dollars to create as opposed to TVA’s original cost estimates. The proposed plant site was not vetted prior to purchase. TVA executives/decision makers have never visited the site.]
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State ef J etUU!SSee PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1100
SENATE BILL NO. 2077
By Yager, Stevens
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2246
By Vaughan, Gant, Faison, White, Lamberth, Garrett, Williams, Eldridge, Moody, Todd
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 65 and Title 68, relative to development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 51, is amended by adding the following as a new part:
7-51-2201. Part definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Distributor" means a party engaged in moving energy commodities, industrial materials, or their derivatives, including the transport and delivery to a retailer or customer; (2) "Energy" means a resource that is marketed, or that has the potential to be marketed, as a commodity because of the resource's value as a source of power or fuel; (3) "Energy infrastructure" means the systems or assets, including storage tanks, pipelines, gas transmission lines, or related equipment, that are necessary to produce, generate, transmit, or distribute natural gas, liquefied petroleum, liquid petroleum, and other similar forms of energy to a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or customer; (4) "Industrial infrastructure" means the systems or assets, including storage tanks, pipelines, or related equipment, that are necessary to produce, transmit, or distribute industrial materials to a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or customer;
(5) "Industrial materials":
(A) Means a basic substance found in its natural, modified, or semi- processed state, or an ingredient, solvent, or other component used as an input to a production process for subsequent modification or transformation into a finished good; and
(B) Includes ammonia, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide;
(6) "Local action" means an ordinance, resolution, regulation, code, requirement, policy, or other action or omission taken, enacted, adopted, or otherwise imposed by a political subdivision of this state; (7) "Political subdivision" means a municipality; public corporation; body politic; authority; district; metropolitan government; county; agency, department, or board of those entities; or another form of local government; (8) "Retailer" means a party who markets or sells energy or industrial materials to a customer; and
SB 2077
(9) "Wholesaler" means a party engaging in the bulk purchase and sale of energy products or industrial materials in the wholesale market for the purposes of reselling energy or industrial materials to a retailer.
7-51-2202. Prohibited policies.
(a) A political subdivision of this state shall not, arising from or as a result of a local action, prohibit the development and implementation of the types or sources of energy that may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the following entities: (1) An electric utility, an electric cooperative, or an electric system that is owned or operated by a political subdivision; (2) An entity that generates, sells, or transmits electrical energy in accordance with all applicable requirements of state and federal law;
(3) A gas utility or a gas system that is owned or operated by a political subdivision;
(4) A gas transmission company;
(5) A liquefied petroleum gas dealer, liquefied petroleum gas dispenser, or liquefied petroleum gas cylinder exchange operator; or
(6) Other liquid petroleum transmission, distribution, retail, or storage entities.
(b) A local action of a political subdivision is preempted and void if the local action, directly or indirectly, is or acts as: (1) A de facto prohibition of the siting, or a prohibition of construction, expansion, or maintenance, of energy, industrial, or related transportation infrastructure within the jurisdictional boundary of a political subdivision. When determining whether a local action results in a de facto prohibition, factors to consider include, but are not limited to, the following:
(A) A fee imposed;
(B) An unreasonable timeframe for a ministerial action; and
(C) The local action's effect on the feasibility of the project;
(2) Regulation or enforcement of safety standards for interstate or intrastate pipeline facilities or interstate or intrastate pipeline transportation as those terms are defined in 49 U.S.C. § 60101; or (3) A prohibition on the ability of a distributor, retailer, wholesaler, or other energy or industrial infrastructure entity to exercise its rights provided by state or federal law related to the siting of energy infrastructure or industrial infrastructure.
(c) This section does not prevent or preempt:
(1) A political subdivision that owns or operates an electric or natural gas system from promulgating rules, regulations, or policies related to the electric or natural gas system; (2) A local action that is state-authorized, ministerial in nature pertaining to land use, generally applicable to similar types of commercial and industrial activities, and necessary to provide a public benefit; (3) A local action that affects facilities for the transmission, distribution, collection, conversion, and use of solar energy; (4) A local action to require a franchise from a political subdivision prior to providing electric or natural gas services within the jurisdictional boundaries of the political subdivision in accordance with state law; (5) A local action to grant, deny, amend, or revoke a franchise to provide electric or natural gas services within the jurisdictional boundaries of the political subdivision in accordance with state law;
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