Watts Bar Steam Plant was a 267-megawatt (MW), coal power plant operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) located in Rhea County, Tennessee near the present site of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant and Watts Bar Dam.

The interior of the plant contained a vantage point for people to view the turbine room and a spacious overlook balcony, which was also included at future plants.

[2] The plant was initially planned as part of an effort to provide power to the defense industry, and originally only two units with a capacity of 60 MWe each were planned, but a third and fourth were added in April and December 1941, respectively.

[1] The plant was shut down between 1957 and 1972 and during this time precipitators were installed to meet emissions regulations.

[2] In 1973, construction began nearby on the two units of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.