TVA locates facility in Hollywood
The Daily Sentinel
Published April 22, 2010
TVA made it official Wednesday when it announced that it would establish a centralized training facility for its nuclear power division at the Jackson County Industrial Park in Scottsboro.
The announcement, made at the site of a 36,000 square foot building the utility purchased from the Scottsboro Industrial Development Board, was welcomed by dozens of public officials and civic leaders on hand.
"It's a great day for Jackson County," Goodrich "Dus" Rogers, President and CEO of the Jackson County Economic Development Authority said in introducing Preston Swafford and Mike Skaggs representing TVA. "I'm glad to see this spec building sold and even happier to see it sold to TVA."
Swafford is Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President of the utility. Skaggs serves as Vice President of Nuclear Operation Support.
TVA will use the facility to train employees slated to work at its nuclear power plants and related corporate offices. In addition to the building the utility purchased 13.5 acres of land in the industrial park.
"Centralizing the in processing, orientation and training of new employees and supplemental staff is expected to improve efficiency and consistency in training personnel who ensure the continued safe production of reliable, clean, and cost-efficient electricity for TVA customers," the utility said in a press release to regional media in announcing its decision.
Swafford said locating the facility near TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Plant made sense because it is centrally located between the utility's Sequoyah, Watts Bar and Browns Ferry nuclear plants.
"We will be able to combine three general employee training centers into one," Swafford said. "That will make us more efficient. This will be a big part of our nuclear operations."
Skaggs said the facility would employ 20-50 people full time to serve the 2,000-5,000 people who will pass through the center annually. The trainees will visit the center from 5-10 working days each. The majority of full time employees will be transferring from other TVA nuclear plants.
"It will be great for our local economy," Greater Jackson County President and CEO Rick Roden said. "Our motels, restaurants and retailers ought to be especially excited."
TVA places its investment in the land, building and equipment at approximately $5 million. It expects to save about $1 million per nuclear outage by centralizing in processing, orientation and training.
The number of full time employees who will be located at the facility "will vary according to the number of people running through the center at any one time," Skaggs said. "Trainees will receive training here and testing here." TVA anticipates having the facility operational by early August and to open it around the first of September though construction work, much being done by local craftsmen, won't be totally finished. Plans are in the works to add a second story to the facility for training maintenance workers.
This facility will allow us to "improve the quality of our training," Skaggs, who noted employees trained at the facility will be fully qualified to work at any of the utility's nuclear plants, said. "It will improve performance at our nuclear power plants."
"TVA showed a tremendous amount of wisdom in locating in Jackson County. We're glad to have you here," Scottsboro Mayor Melton Potter, who praised the joint effort between the city, county, state and federal legislative delegations and the town of Hollywood, said. "It shows what can happen when you have a spirit of cooperation."
Representatives were on hand from the offices of Senator Richard Shelby, Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Parker Griffith.