Tennessee Central Economic Authority PowerCom Industrial Center port feasibility study

Project Summary

The dock structure at the Tennessee Central Economic Authority’s PowerCom Industrial Center, adjacent to the Cumberland River near Hartsville, Tennessee, was built in the 1970s to facilitate the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) construction, in 1982, of what would have been the world’s largest nuclear power plant. In 2002, Four Lake began purchasing more than 550 acres of the site from TVA, and the ownership transfer was finalized in 2007.

Four Lake contracted with Hanson in 2013 to conduct a port feasibility study related to the dock structure. The study’s objective was to determine the viability of a river terminal operation at the PowerCom site to complement other economic development initiatives and service options at the site and in the surrounding region. Secondary objectives included assessing the existing site conditions, including infrastructure; conducting a market evaluation to determine regional market trends and potential target commodities; and developing land-use and operations scenarios. The study also provided Four Lake with a foundation to support future PowerCom site marketing initiatives and completed a significant step toward applying for grant funding to support site development initiatives.

Hanson recommended site improvements for the PowerCom river terminal area, identifying near-term infrastructure improvements to protect the existing port infrastructure, add value to the general port terminal development and improve the site’s sustainability and environment.