The idle Bellefonte Nuclear Plant -- which was never completed and never produced any electricity -- is seen in Hollywood, Ala., in this 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Huntsville Times, Dave Dieter, File)

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By Ed Marcum of the Knoxville News Sentinel

The TVA board on Thursday will discuss whether to sell its Bellefonte Nuclear Plant site, and members of a TVA advisory board that took up the issue this morning were split on what would be the best option.

In February, TVA announced it was abandoning its license application to build new reactors at the Bellefonte site in Northern Alabama, and was considering selling the site. This morning, the TVA Regional Energy Resource Council, an external stakeholders' group that advises the TVA board, held a webinar to discuss whether the site should be sold.

Joe Hoagland, TVA vice president of stakeholder relations, told the group that the issue is on the agenda when the board meets Thursday in Buchanan, Tenn. It will be the board's discretion whether to reach a decision on selling the site or to just discuss options, Hoagland said.

TVA has decided that over the next 20 years it will not need the power that a plant like Bellefonte can produce. Several members of the Resource Council were doubtful another utility would see a need to buy and complete the unfinished plant either.

However members saw a need to save a switchyard and other infrastructure there to protect ratepayers investment in funds already spent. Some wanted this infrastructure to be used with a renewable energy project, others wanted it used for an industrial development.

There was general agreement that whatever is done with the site, it should be developed to produce the most jobs and revenues for the local area.

The Regional Energy Resource Council is accepting public comments through the TVA website at www.tva.com/rec.