 As an alternative to unplanned rural sprawl, the Tennessee Valley Authority is working with Alabama's Elk River Development Agency in an innovative approach to community planning. The development is called Elkmont Rural Village and is located near Athens in northern Alabama. First phase construction of the village is well underway. One of the requirements for all homes to be built here is that they must comply with TVA's energy saving super saver homes specifications. The super saver concept includes extra thick insulation, the use of an electric heat pump, and other different construction techniques. The Community Recreation Center now going up at the entrance of the new town is equipped with solar panels. The 2400 square foot building will include a solar water heater in addition to using a solar system for heating the building. According to plans, up to 1000 homes are to be built in the village on the 1700 acres of land. Tennis courts, as well as picnic areas and nature trails, are being provided for use by the residents. Permanent open space and careful planning are the two key factors that will make the village different. TVA says if these planning concepts prove practical, they can be used as guides for other housing developments in the TVA area and throughout the country. For TVA, this is Steve Sineman.