White House Press Release, Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Senator Styles Bridges

186 3 164X IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 26, 1948 od sdaim The President today sent the following letter to the Honorable Styles Bridges, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations: Igque of nottuíce refted B Viqque Love ,notJapol to Intog My dear Mr Chairman: of notesimement orbyd bease I am advised that the Senate Committee on Appropria- tions is currently (considering the appropriation request for etsthe Tennessee Valley Authority, including particularly restora- tion of the budgeted amount of $4,000,000 to begin construction of a steam plant at New Johnsonville, Tennessee, which amount was deleted by the House of Representatives. The New Johnsonville plant is needed to provide a minimum reserve capacity for supplying firm power to the Tennessee Valley, assuming a normal peacetime growth of demand, and it is urgently needed at this time to meet potential require- ments in the event of an emergency affecting the national security. There is no equally effective means of assuring to the nation the prompt installation of this new capacity, and of integrating the power available from this source into that provided by the hydroelectric system of the Tennessee Valley Authority. I am attaching for the information of your Committee a copy of a letter received by me from the Chairman of the National Security Resources Board, which indicates the importance of this project to our national security. I urge, in the strongest possible terms, the favorable consideration of your Committee and of the Congress. Very sincerely yours, NARA HARRY S. TRUMAN Following is the text of the letter to the President from the Chairman of the National Security Resources Board, to which the President referred in the letter to Senator Bridges: My dear Mr. President: On May 19, 1948, I submitted to you a report on the national electric power situation. With specific reference to the southeast, it is clear that the margins for reserves are inadequate for the period 1948 through 1951. Accordingly, every effort should be made by the Federal government to support and expedite the power expansion program designed to relieve this critical power situation. From the standpoint of national security, a larger power cushion should be provided in order to permit prompt handling of future loads that may arise in connection with the rearnament program. It is our understanding that the Senate Appropriations Committee is now considering the Tennessee Valley Authority's request for an appropriation to start construction of a steam generating plant on Kentucky Lake at New Johnsonville, Tennessee. It is the opinion of the National Security Resources Board that the capacity from this proposed new steam plant is needed in the area and will provide, in combination with existing hydro electric power, a greater margin of safety. (OVER)