A massive turbine is lifted from Cherokee Dam’s Unit 3 during a recent modernization project. Photo courtesy of Tennessee Valley Authority.
JEFFERSON CITY – A piece of East Tennessee history was carefully lifted away earlier this month as the last of Cherokee Dam’s original turbines was removed after more than eight decades of service.
The 144,000-pound turbine, part of Unit 3 at Cherokee Dam, had been generating power since the early 1940s. Its removal marks the end of service for the final original turbine installed when the dam first began operating 83 years ago.
The aging equipment will be replaced with a modern, more efficient turbine designed to produce additional electricity while also improving water quality below the dam. The new turbine will help aerate water released downstream, benefiting fish and other aquatic life in the Holston River system.
Located near Jefferson City, Cherokee Dam is one of four hydroelectric units capable of generating up to 153 megawatts of low-cost reliable electricity. Beyond power generation, the dam plays a vital role in flood control, recreation, water supply and regional economic stability.
A massive turbine is lifted from Cherokee Dam’s Unit 3 during a recent modernization project. Photo courtesy of Tennessee Valley Authority.
Operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cherokee Dam has long stood as a symbol of New Deal era engineering and progress. The turbine upgrade represents a bridge between that legacy and the future, ensuring the dam continues serving East Tennessee for generations to come.
As the original turbine is retired, its replacement reflects how modern technology can honor history while meeting today’s energy and environmental needs.
A massive turbine is lifted from Cherokee Dam’s Unit 3 during a recent modernization project. Photo courtesy of Tennessee Valley Authority.