WZTV reports that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is set to demolish a 500-foot-tall cooling tower, a long-abandoned relic of an unfinished nuclear plant project in Hartsville from the 1970s, in mid-September 2025. The tower, a prominent landmark in Trousdale County for nearly five decades, has been a source of local fascination and debate, seen by some as a quirky piece of history and by others as an eyesore.

The nuclear project was halted in the early 1980s due to cost overruns, leaving the site dormant and the town with a “ghost town” feel, as described by Mayor Jack McCall. The impending implosion has sparked speculation about the site’s future, with rumors of potential redevelopment into a natural gas plant, a small-scale nuclear reactor, or a combination of both, though TVA has not confirmed any plans.

The demolition is part of TVA’s effort to remove obsolete infrastructure and enhance safety, as the tower has attracted thrill-seekers and explorers despite being private property. While no formal redevelopment plans have been submitted, TVA is working on a new natural gas pipeline and a solar farm in Trousdale County, though not at the tower site.

The community is bracing for the change, with some residents optimistic about potential economic benefits and others uncertain about what lies ahead, as they prepare to witness the tower’s dramatic end.