Tennessee Valley Authority
Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant
The Raccoon Mountain project is TVA’s largest hydroelectric facility. Water is pumped to the reservoir on top of the mountain and then used to generate electricity when additional power is needed by the TVA system.
Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant is located in southeast Tennessee on a site that overlooks the Tennessee River near Chattanooga.
The plant works like a large storage battery. During periods of low demand, water is pumped from Nickajack Reservoir at the base of the mountain to the reservoir built at the top. It takes 28 hours to fill the upper reservoir. When demand is high, water is released via a tunnel drilled through the center of the mountain to drive generators in the mountain’s underground power plant.
The area around Raccoon Mountain is a state-designated Wildlife Observation Area. The mountaintop is home to whitetail deer, woodchucks, gray foxes, and, of course, raccoons. The most compelling wildlife attraction of the area is a large wintering population of bald eagles, which can be sighted from the overlook as they hunt in the woods and waters.
Visitor Center
TVA is performing equipment improvements on the hydroelectric power station that will require a temporary closure of the visitor center. The closure for public safety reasons will be for an undetermined period.
The Laurel Point Recreation Area on the Raccoon Mountain reservation will remain open. Volunteers will be on hand again this summer at Laurel Point to answer visitors’ questions about riding trails, a TVA history walking trail and other activities.