ANGA Comments on TVA Decision to Purchase the Magnolia Natural Gas Power Plant

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Background: Following is a statement by Daniel Whitten, Vice President of Strategic Communications for America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), on the decision by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to acquire the Magnolia natural gas power plant from Magnolia Energy L.P. The Magnolia plant is an existing 964 megawatt natural gas-fired combined cycle electric generating facility located in the TVA region in northwest Mississippi near Ashland.

"ANGA applauds the decision by the management and board of the TVA to increase its utilization of natural gas by approving the acquisition of Magnolia Energy L.P.'s natural gas plant. Magnolia began operations in 2003 and is a state-of-the-art generating facility that achieves low or no emissions of NOx, sulfur dioxide and mercury through the use of clean-burning natural gas."

"ANGA strongly supports TVA's position that the Magnolia plant offers a strategic operational and financial fit for TVA and its vision to be a leader in low-cost, clean energy. Natural gas supports thousands of jobs in the TVA region. Additionally, in a time of concern over air quality, it is important to all Americans that we look to scalable generation that can be brought to market quickly and preserves clean air. Natural gas fills the need for affordable, reliable, clean energy now and into the future.

"The Magnolia plant is the fifth gas-powered plant TVA has bought, built or leased in the past four years as it shifts more of its fossil generation to natural gas. Over the long term, the addition of new high-efficiency gas-fired generation can and should be prioritized to help meet TVA's growing energy needs in a reliable and economical way using this abundant, American resource."

America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) represents 30 of North America's leading independent natural gas exploration and production companies. ANGA members are dedicated to increasing the appreciation of the environmental, economic and national security benefits of clean, abundant, American natural gas. Learn more about ANGA at www.anga.us.

SOURCE America's Natural Gas Alliance