Around the Regions: June 2024

Fast Charge Network Ribbon Cutting at Fayetteville Public Utilities

We celebrated the 30th Fast Charge TN Network ribbon cutting on June 12 in Fayetteville, Tenn., with our partners at FPU. It was great to see Representatives Pat Marsh and Clay Doggett along with our friends at Seven States Power Corporation.

Jana Sublett Selected for Leadership Kentucky Program

North Region Community Relations Specialist, Jana Sublett, was selected to participate in the 2024 class of Leadership Kentucky. This year’s class includes 52 participants from across the Commonwealth representing a variety of public and private sectors. Leadership Kentucky’s 2024 flagship program consists of seven, three-day sessions between June and December, where participants gather to gain insight on the Commonwealth of Kentucky, its challenges and opportunities.

American Legion Recognition

On June 14, the TVARA Johnsonville/Cumberland Chapter, represented by Mickey Blackburn, TVA North Region Community Relations, and our direct served partners at The Chemours Company were recognized by the Hickman Patterson American Legion Post #34 in Waverly, Tenn. All listed entities supported repairs on the historic building, originally constructed in the late 19th century, through contributions.

Juneteenth615 Festival in Nashville

The North Region team along with team members from Nashville Electric Service celebrated at the Juneteenth615 Festival at Fort Negley Park in Nashville, Tenn. This was a great opportunity to promote the public power model and share information about programs such as Home Uplift.

Gateway STEM Center Ribbon Cutting

On June 26, Springfield Electric System and the North Region team celebrated Gateway STEM Center cutting the ribbon on their new Cal Ripken Sr. STEM Center. Gateway’s programming instills a love of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in its students, and their enthusiasm was evident during this celebration.

East Region

Building Bonds in the Community

TVA’s Women Empowered ERG and ladies from LPC partner Cleveland Utilities joined forces on June 6 for a Habitat for Humanity “Women Build” event in Bradley County, Tenn. Close to 20 women in two shifts worked enthusiastically on trimming insulation materials, moving scaffolding and installing timber roof trusses for a home being built for a family with multiple children.

Stakeholders Engage with CEO at New PSOC

On June 7, the East Region team hosted several customers, elected officials and key stakeholders for an engagement with TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash at the new Primary System Operations Center (PSOC) in Georgetown, Tenn. The event provided an opportunity to foster collaborative dialogue surrounding important issues and opportunities TVA and its stakeholders are facing and to align on a path forward. It also provided an opportunity to showcase the state-of-the-art PSOC facility, which is steadily progressing toward completion.

Jeff’s message centered on a resonating “eyes up” theme that applied appropriately to key focus areas like energy security and reliability, emerging technology investment, new generation site strategy, the future of TVA’s energy mix and our collective approach to planning.

TVA’s STEM Efforts Shine Through at Underwater Robotics Competition

On June 20-22, the TVA-sponsored 2024 MATE ROV Competition World Championships were held at the Kingsport Aquatic Center in Sullivan County, Tenn.

TVA and our TVA retiree organization, Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., sponsored the event, which aligns with our commitment to STEM education. The competition attracted teams from across the globe who deployed custom robots on underwater missions to help solve real world issues. TVA Director Dr. Brian Noland welcomed participants and delivered inspiring opening remarks that noted the event’s embodiment of a spirit of innovation that TVA shares and celebrates.

Holston Electric Flexibility Project Yields Nation’s First Ethane-to-Power Facility

LPC innovation was celebrated on June 28, as Holston Electric Cooperative commissioned a 1.5-megawatt power generation plant at the NGL Supply fractionation facility in Bulls Gap, Tenn. TVA East Region staff were on hand to celebrate the first phase of this LPC Flexibility project.

Holston Electric’s new Jenbacher J420 generator, provided by Aggreko, is fueled by excess, or waste ethane gas from the fractionation facility. While there are ethane production facilities across the United States, this site stands alone as the first ethane-to-power generation facility in the nation.

South Region

TVA Continues to Work with Economic Development Partners

TVA has worked successfully with our economic development partners to serve companies looking to relocate or expand their business operations in Alabama. In June, Toyota Motors Manufacturing announced plans to expand operations in Madison County. The company plans to add 350 new jobs and invest $282 million with this latest expansion. Economic development partners include Huntsville Utilities, Madison County, City of Huntsville, Huntsville Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Additionally, Shape Corp., an automotive manufacturing supplier, announced plans to establish new operations in Huntsville, in addition to their existing Athens location. The company plans to create 100 new jobs and invest $74 million in its Huntsville facility. Both projects further TVA’s mission of service to help improve the quality of life for the people of the Valley.

Transmission System Investments & Improvements Underway in Alabama

TVA’s investment of $2.8 billion in transmission system improvements to ensure our system meets the demand of our growing region is evident in Alabama. The structural restoration of eight transmission river towers near Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is ongoing through December 2025. We also announced the preferred location for a proposed transmission line that would prepare for growth and increase power reliability in the Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville areas of Madison County. Learn more about the current transmission system projects in Alabama that will help us continue providing reliable, affordable, resilient, and clean energy to our customers for years to come.

TVA Sponsored Events Educate, Support Recreation & Help Bring Economic Benefits

Some of the nation’s top anglers and locals have been casting lines in reservoirs across north Alabama. TVA recently supported Hydrofest, an event that brings thousands of people to the banks of Lake Guntersville to watch boat racing.

TVA also sponsored two Bassmaster tournaments in the South Region this year – the Bassmaster Elite Series at Wheeler Reservoir and the Bassmaster Kayak Series at Guntersville Reservoir. These events showcase recreational opportunities along the 11,000 miles of shoreline TVA manages and spurs economic development. Additionally, team members educate people in our communities. At the Bassmaster Elite Expo and Fishing Tournament at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur, team members from Natural Resources Management, Environment & Sustainability, Dam Safety and Communications and Brand Marketing shared information about our mission and TVA’s ongoing work across the Valley region.

Alabama STEM Explorers Visit the Colbert Combustion Turbine Plant

We welcomed a student host and crew from Alabama STEM Explorers to the Colbert Combustion Turbine Plant. Watch the episode, which features Plant Manager Mark Rutland and the process of natural gas power production. The Alabama Public Television series is both engaging and interactive. It focuses on how science and technology is applied across the state and highlights core concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Connecting with Students at Welding & Technology Camp

TVA employees joined the effort by Calhoun Community College and the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce to expose young women to welding and electrical technology. Members of our Labor Supply team were special guests at the SWeETy Camp for Girls. Over the course of three days, students in 9 – 12 grade got to participate in welding projects designed to introduce them to non-traditional careers, including ones at TVA.

Southwest Region

Economic development in Mississippi

The groundbreaking ceremony for the PACCAR/Cummins/Daimler joint commercial vehicle advanced battery cell production facility was held Friday, June 28, in Marshall County, Mississippi.  Now known as Amplify Cell Technologies, this will be the second largest capital investment in Mississippi history and will create 2,000 jobs.

More STEM engaging more students

The Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia has been awarded a new Cal Ripken STEM Center. The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi and Golden Triangle, which already have a TVA and Ripken STEM Center, will each receive a new Cal Ripken Robotics program to continue to engage and excite students in areas of focus for TVA and our future workforce strategies.

Engaging and supporting LPCs

Holly Springs Utility Department’s new general manager, Wayne Jones, began his tenure in late May, and Southwest region leadership has been working with various business partners and TVPPA to help acclimate him to his new role and discuss opportunities with HSUD may currently.  Mr. Jones attended the June 14 CEO engagement at the Tupelo CSC, where he was able to meet with Jeff Lyash, Jeannette Mills and various local power company and community leaders.

New projects seeking public input

TVA recently announced that we are seeking public comment on two projects in Mississippi: The New Caledonia Gas Plant and the Magnolia Solar Project.

The New Caledonia site is a former CT facility, originally constructed in 1998 and operated for several years by a private company. The company dismantled the site in 2007, removing the existing six frame CTs. The study area for the proposed action is 145 acres and includes the entire proposed combustion turbine property as well as the adjacent substation property, which remains in operation. TVA is considering constructing and operating an approximately 500-megawatt combustion turbine facility, allowing TVA to use existing natural gas and transmission infrastructure.

The solar facility would be constructed and operated by SR Magnolia, LLC (SR Magnolia), a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Ranch Corporation. The project would occupy approximately 1,434 acres on a 1,466-acre tract of land currently classified as farmland in a rural farming community. The proposed project is expected to be interconnected at a new 161-kV three position ring bus station on TVA’s existing West Point – Stateline 161-kV line.

West Region

Ripley Solar public comment period

TVA recently asked for public comments on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed purchase of electricity generated by the proposed Ripley II Solar Project in Lauderdale County, Tenn.

The facility would be constructed and operated by SR Ripley II, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Ranch Corporation. The project would occupy approximately 194 acres on a 490-acre tract of land comprised mostly of agricultural fields.

Loving Local: A Project Green Fork Event

On June 9, Project Green Fork hosted its highly anticipated Loving Local event at Grind City Brewing Company in Memphis, Tenn., bringing together food enthusiasts, chefs, artisans and community members to celebrate local flavors and sustainable practices.

Presented by TVA, and attended by approximately 400 people, the event was a resounding success, showcasing the rich culinary talent and vibrant culture of Memphis while promoting environmental consciousness through a zero-waste initiative.

The event produced just six and a half pounds of trash and the 22.4 pounds of leftover food was donated to partner organizations, helping to feed those in need and reducing the environmental footprint of the event.

Memphis Dream Summit

The West Region team participated in the Dream Summit, which is a two-day event to educate, empower, and ignite the next generation of dreamers to achieve economic freedom through financial literacy, the creative arts, and social entrepreneurship.

Beyond the Reach Quarterly Serve Day

On June 15, The West Region team participated in a day of service presented by Beyond the Reach, a Memphis-based organization that meets at Morris Park to provide ongoing support and assistance to service Memphis’ homeless population.

Allen Fossil Plant Boxtown Community Day

More than 80 community members and leaders joined TVA for the second annual Community Day event in the Boxtown neighborhood on June 18. TVA shared with the community progress about the Allen Restoration Project and also provided updates on upcoming activities. It was a fun time to visit with one another as everyone enjoyed the good food, conversation and children’s games.

TVA was grateful that Memphis City Councilwomen Yolanda Cooper-Sutton and Pearl Walker attended, as well as Field Representative Jonathan White of Sen. Hagerty’s office and State Director Nick Kistenmacher of Sen. Blackburn’s office.

TVA is at the phase of the project where demolition crews are backfilling the excavated Allen plant site with clean soil material to prepare the site for future redevelopment. As we continue to make significant progress on the Allen Restoration Project, we want to keep the community informed along the way and maintain an open line of communication. TVA wants to be the first call when there are questions or feedback about the project.

Garden Buzz Pollinator Party

TVA joined the University of Tennessee for a Garden Buzz Pollinator Party. This event was held at three locations across the state of Tennessee to learn more about pollinators, pollinator plants, bee keeping and the importance of protecting habitat for pollinators. Garden Buzz offered participants an opportunity to learn more about pollinators in Tennessee through educational sessions and to fill their gardens with locally grown plants.

Sidney Chism 24th Annual Community Picnic

The West Region joined EnergyRight and the Allen Restoration Project Team at a community outreach event to engage the public and educate about EnergyRight programs at the Sidney Chism 24th Annual Community Picnic.

Mitchell Community Center Summer Camp

The Allen Restoration Project team recently sponsored the Mitchell Community Center Summer Camp, which is a summer camp program for the local low-income community.