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New scholarship available to Washington Youth Tour delegates

[NASHVILLE] – For more than 50 years the Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing Competition has honored some of Tennessee’s most talented young writers. Among other incentives, winners receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to learn more about history, government and public policy. Recently the rewards of winning grew when Union University in Jackson, Tenn., announced a new scholarship exclusively for youth tour winners.

The annual competition and trip is coordinated by Tennessee’s consumer-owned electric cooperatives and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “We take great pride in recognizing the best and brightest from across the state,” said David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “With this commitment from Union University, the Washington Youth Tour creates more opportunities than ever before for Tennessee students.”

Union University will offer 24 $4,000 per year scholarships and one $10,000 per year scholarship to winners of Tennessee’s Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing Competition.

“Strong writing skills and a first-hand knowledge of government and public policy are valuable traits in today’s world,” says Robbie Graves, Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions. “Union University is honored to be a part of the Washington Youth Tour. We believe the competition offers Tennessee students a unique opportunity to develop their leadership abilities and be equipped to return to their local communities with confidence to make a difference.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for youth tour winners,” says Tina Morris, communications and community outreach specialist and youth tour coordinator for Southwest Tennessee Electric. The university approached Morris with the scholarships after learning about the program at an orientation dinner for youth tour winners held on the university campus. “We want youth tour to motivate students to pursue things they had never before considered, and this scholarship could be just what they need to take the next step. We appreciate Union University for partnering with us to open more doors of opportunity for these young people.”

 

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General Assembly Outlook

The 110th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee reconvened on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, for the second year of the two-year session and the first year in their new legislative offices at the Cordell Hull Building. It is expected that the upcoming legislative session will be a short one as 2018 is an election year, and members cannot raise funds for re-election while the legislature is in session.

Over two dozen members of the General Assembly will be retiring or running for a different elected office in 2018 and will likely be eager to return to their districts as quickly as possible. House Speaker Beth Harwell (R – Nashville), a gubernatorial candidate herself, will also be pushing for a quick session so that she may return to the campaign and fundraising trail.

Major issues likely to be taken up in the 2018 legislative agenda include the opioid epidemic, medical marijuana, seven-day liquor and wine sales and, of course, the budget.

Opioid Epidemic

A task force on opioid and prescription drug abuse, created by Speaker Harwell, met this summer and compiled a list of recommendations for treatment, prevention and policy. It is expected that a number of these recommendations will be introduced in legislative form this session. Look for bills that limit emergency room prescriptions, call for the hiring of additional Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agents and establish a commission to combat drug abuse.

Medical Marijuana

Rep. Jeremy Faison (R – Cosby) has been on a mission to legalize medical marijuana, and he may be closer than ever to reaching his goal. He will present a bill this session that would allow patients with certain debilitating illnesses to obtain prescriptions for certain marijuana products, including oils and extracts in capsules, pills, ointments, lotions and liquids. Smoking will not be an allowable product. While the bill would not allow for the recreational use of marijuana, opponents of the bill argue this is the next step before legalizing marijuana for recreational use. While the chances of passage this year may still be slim, the tide seems to be shifting in supporters’ way.

Seven-Day Sales of Liquor and Wine

The wine-in-grocery-stores law became effective in July 2016 and some liquor stores have seen a dramatic decrease in sales as a result. In hopes to offset some of this decline in sales, a bill was filed last year to permit wine and liquor sales on all seven days of the week. The 2017 bill was ultimately opposed by some vocal retail liquor store owners who want to maintain a state-mandated day off despite lagging sales. Working in support of the measure is a coalition consisting of grocery stores, the Tennessee Retail Association and manufacturers of distilled spirits. The coalition will resume its efforts to clear a path forward in 2018.

The Budget

As Gov. Haslam starts the last year of his eight-year administration, this will be his final budget to present before the General Assembly. With the passage of last year’s IMPROVE Act, which cut food and business taxes, the governor and legislature may have to put in extra work to balance our budget. Tax collections continue to increase but not at the rate of increase before the IMPOVE Act became law. In short, there will be a tighter budget.

Co-ops

Of specific interest to electric cooperatives, a coalition of utility associations will work to ensure that sales tax is not newly applied to fees charged by water, sewer, gas, and electric providers. This is the result of potential rule making by the Department of Revenue which would apply the state sales tax to fees charged to electric cooperative commercial and industrial customers. The rule has not yet been finalized, but conversations with the Department have shown that proactive legislation is the best bet to ensure that increased taxation for utility customers does not occur.

Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) and Representative Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) will be introducing legislation to ensure that electric cooperatives have full rights to utilize cooperative easements for any purpose that State authorizes cooperatives to perform. This legislation will ensure that any written or prescriptive easement held by the co-op could be legally used for the provision of electric and telecommunications services.

Other issues will surely rise throughout the course of the session, and the TECA Government Affairs team will keep members informed each step along the way.

Flickr image by Rain0975

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Tennessee electric co-ops respond to Trump speech

During a speech today at the Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Nashville, President Donald Trump emphasized the need for expanded connectivity across rural America.

David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, made the following statement.

“We are pleased that the Trump administration is making rural issues a priority – especially the expansion of connectivity,” said Callis. “Few things have the potential to reshape rural Tennessee quite like broadband. Modern education, healthcare and commerce all depend on affordable and reliable access. Tennessee’s rural communities have tremendous potential. When they succeed, we all succeed.”

Tennessee’s electric co-ops serve more than 2.5 million Tennesseans, many of whom do not have access to broadband.

In 2017, Gov. Bill Haslam and the Tennessee General Assembly recognized that electric co-ops are uniquely positioned to help close the state’s digital divide. The Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act removed restrictions that prevented electric cooperatives from providing retail internet access. Just nine months later, some areas of the state are already seeing the benefits. Two co-ops have active broadband pilot projects, and several others will begin connecting consumers later this year.

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ORNL exec, three others join TVA board

via Jim Gaines, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

The U.S. Senate confirmed four new members to the nine-seat Tennessee Valley Authority board on Thursday, including the deputy for operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

President Donald Trump nominated Jeff Smith and three others in September. The new members come from four of the seven states TVA serves.

“While at ORNL, Mr. Smith has led a $400 million modernization effort that has given rise to more new construction at the Laboratory at any time since the Manhattan Project,” his bio page on ORNL’s website says. Smith has been involved in many government science efforts nationwide, and served in the planning office responsible for creating the Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned electricity corporation. An act of Congress established the company in 1933 to help the Tennessee Valley overcome environmental and economic problems. Now TVA provides power for the entire state of Tennessee and parts of six bordering states. The corporation also provides flood control, navigation and management for the Tennessee River System. The company has a diverse power plant portfolio that includes nuclear, fossil, diesel, hydroelectric, natural gas, solar and wind energy. The corporation funds its own operations by the sale of its electricity to power distributors. Wochit

The other new board members are:

  • Kenneth E. Allen of Hopkins County, Kentucky, a retired Armstrong Coal Co. executive;
  • A.D. Frazier, Atlanta business executive and former chairman and CEO of the Chicago Stock Exchange; and
  • James R. “Skip” Thompson III, president and chief executive of corporate billing at National Commerce Corp. in Decatur, Alabama.

“I’m glad the Senate confirmed these nominations so the new board members can get to work at the nation’s largest public utility,” Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, said in a news release Friday. “Each of these nominees understands that TVA must continue to provide cheap, clean, reliable electricity for homes and businesses throughout the seven-state Tennessee Valley region. I appreciate the president selecting such well-qualified nominees, and I look forward to working with them in the coming years.”

Senator Lamar Alexander speaking at the groundbreaking

Senator Lamar Alexander speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the mercury treatment facility at Y-12 Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. (Photo: Michael Patrick/News Sentinel)

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, introduced Smith at a Senate hearing on his nomination last month, according to a news release.

“With over 9 million customers, TVA is the largest public power utility in the nation, and it is critical for the Tennessee Valley that it remains a low-cost, reliable producer of electricity, not only for ratepayers but also for our state’s business recruitment efforts,” Corker said in a Friday announcement. “The diverse backgrounds of these nominees give them the necessary qualifications to support TVA’s important mission, and I am pleased the Senate has acted swiftly to confirm them.”

The confirmations leave one empty seat on the TVA board, for which there is no current nominee.

Two of the now-filled seats were vacant, having expired in May 2016; but board chair Lynn Evans and member Marilyn Brown continued serving, since their terms expired in May 2017, according to TVA spokesman Scott Brooks.

“They are still active board members,” Brooks said.

Term-expired members can serve in unfilled seats through the end of the current congressional session; the 115th Congress ends Jan. 3, 2019.

Smith and Frazier replace Brown and Evans, and will serve until 2022. The terms of Allen and Thompson expire in 2021.

Had all five seats actually become vacant, the TVA board would lack a quorum. TVA President and CEO Bill Johnson said May 2 that without a board quorum the agency could continue ongoing work but couldn’t start new initiatives.

At the time of Trump’s nominations, several news outlets noted all four nominees were white men, which will leave only one woman and one African American director on the board.

The agency’s next board meeting is February in Chattanooga, but a swearing-in date for the new members hasn’t been set, Brooks said.

“That’s up to them,” he said.

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Electric co-ops build up Tennessee

State’s electric cooperatives gather in Nashville to explore the impact of co-ops

NASHVILLE – “Build Up” was the theme of the 76th annual meeting of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, held Sunday, Nov. 19, through Tuesday, Nov. 21, in Nashville. More than 350 electric cooperative leaders from across the state attended the event where they explored the impact of co-ops and challenged one another to meet the needs of their communities.

“Co-ops provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity, but our impact goes far beyond energy,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “We recruit jobs and investment; we prepare the next generation of leaders; we give back through charitable donations, taxes and payroll; and we are on the leading edge of a movement that will bring high-speed internet to rural communities. Electric co-ops build up Tennessee – creating opportunities, impacting families and positioning communities to grow and prosper.”

Michael Watson, manager for Duck River Electric Membership Corporation in Shelbyville, was appointed president of the board and Jarrod Brackett, manager of Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative in Vonore, was appointed vice president. Johnnie Ruth Elrod, director for Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative in Centerville, will continue to serve as board secretary.

Elections were also held for three positions on the association’s board of trustees. Mark Derrick, a director for Holston Electric Cooperative in Rogersville; Michael Jordan, a director for Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative in South Pittsburg; and Kevin Murphy, manager for Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation in Brownsville, were elected to four-year terms.

“Congratulations to those honored with leadership positions,” says Callis. “Their talents and ideas will be valuable as we continue our mission to serve Tennessee’s electric cooperatives and their members.”

The third annual TECA Top Tenn Communications Awards were presented during the event. Gibson Electric Membership Corporation received an award for Best External Newsletter or Magazine Section; Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Best Internal Newsletter and Best Website; Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative, Best Use of Social Media; Fayetteville Public Utilities, Best Video. Appalachian Electric Cooperative, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation each received Awards of Excellence in the Wild Card category, with Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Volunteer Energy Cooperative, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Appalachian Electric Cooperative earning Awards of Merit.

“It is important for electric cooperative consumer-owners to be educated and informed,” says Robin Conover, TECA’s vice president of communications and editor of The Tennessee Magazine. “We honor these winners for telling the electric cooperative story in a professional way across multiple platforms.”

“I’ll leave you with this challenge,” said Callis during remarks to co-op leaders on Monday, Nov. 20. “Think carefully about your co-op and your co-op members. What are their needs? What are their expectations? What opportunities exist for your co-op to take action to improve everyday life for your members. We have an important role to play, and together co-ops can build up Tennessee.”

 

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300 co-op employees volunteer to serve communities during Day of Service

[NASHVILLE] – Co-ops across the state today are participating in the first Tennessee Electric Co-op Day of Service. More than 300 co-op employees are scheduled to volunteer 1,200 hours in completing 19 unique service projects in co-op served communities throughout Tennessee.

“We build stronger communities – it’s the reason we exist,” said David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “The Day of Service is an opportunity for co-ops use our time, skills and expertise to create a positive impact on the places we serve – the places we call home.”

Twelve Tennessee co-ops developed 19 individual projects as a part of the 2017 Tennessee Electric Co-op Day of Service. This year’s effort included partnerships with Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Clubs and United Way as well as projects to install LED nightlights at a nursing home, conduct litter pickups, install new ductwork for deserving members and construct wheelchair ramps. A majority of these projects will be completed on Thursday, Oct. 5, but conflicts required that some projects be scheduled for other days.

Participating in this year’s event are employees from Appalachian Electric Cooperative, Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, Pickwick Electric Cooperative, Plateau Electric Cooperative, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Volunteer Energy Cooperative. We are also grateful for AdPro for providing shirts for this year’s volunteers.

“We appreciate the co-ops that are a part of our first Tennessee Electric Co-op Day of Service,” says Callis. “We look forward to having an even bigger impact next year.”

View photos of the event here.

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October is Co-op Month

Cooperatives are, by any measure, a big deal in our state. From the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains, cooperatives improve the well-being of rural residents and communities across our state. They provide electric, internet and telephone services to homes, farms and rural businesses. They help Tennesseans secure financing for land. They offer products and services — including genetics and seed, nutrients and feed, crop protection and health equipment and fuel — for growing and marketing crops and livestock. They provide insurance for individuals and family businesses. And they employ thousands of Tennesseans.

Some 200 cooperatives currently serve Tennesseans through more than 6,000 employees working to impact our state’s economy by more than $1 billion annually, supporting schools and local infrastructure through tax contributions, enhancing our commitment to and focus on rural economies and shaping and empowering our state’s future.

The best thing about cooperatives? They are controlled by their members who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Representatives are elected from among the membership and are accountable to the membership. Every member has equal voting rights: one member, one vote. This is one of our key guiding principles.

Other than certain rules that we have to follow like regulatory or legal requirements, the policies your electric cooperative follows were developed by co-op member-owners like yourself.

That difference in ownership also leads to a difference in governance. Many corporate board members are selected because of their wealth, influence and position. That’s not the criteria for a co-op board. First and foremost, every electric co-operative director is a member of the cooperative. Directors serve on the board because they were elected by other co-op members — you — to represent them.

Because they are members, they live and often work in the communities they serve. That ensures that their attention is rightly focused on where they live. When you make a decision that affects you and your neighbors, you want to get it right. If you don’t, your neighbors will let you know about it.

Cooperatives across the state work for the development of their communities. Support for education, healthcare and economic development helps grow the community and keep it vibrant for tomorrow’s co-op members — your children and grandchildren.

Earlier this summer, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, by proclamation, declared October 2017 as Cooperative Month. With 75 percent of Tennesseans served in some manner by a cooperative, we think a month-long celebration of co-operative membership is a fitting tribute.

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Tennessee’s electric co-ops issue statement on TVA board nominations

[NASHVILLE] – Today President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Kenneth E. Allen of Kentucky, James R. Thompson III of Alabama, A. D. Frazier of Georgia and Jeffrey Smith of Tennessee for the TVA board. David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, made the following statement:

“Decisions made by the TVA board have a major impact on Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and our 2.1 million consumer-owners. We believe that qualified and experienced leadership is critical to the agency’s success. TVA is an important partner in our mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy across rural and suburban Tennessee, and we look forward to working with these nominees.”

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Tennessee Co-ops send aid to Florida, Georgia

Volunteer lineworkers from 11 electric cooperatives to participate in restoration effort following massive hurricane

NASHVILLE – More than 90 electric cooperative lineworkers from Tennessee are heading to Florida and Georgia to restore power to those affected by Hurricane Irma.

“Eleven electric cooperatives in Tennessee are sending personnel and equipment to Florida and Georgia to assist electric cooperatives impacted by this incredible storm,” said David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

Tennessee crews have been making plans since last week, but co-ops were hesitant to commit crews until the remnants of Hurricane Irma moved through Tennessee. With the storm passed, some crews have already left and others are making final preparations to leave for hard-hit Florida and Georgia. This cooperation is enabled through mutual-aid agreements among electric cooperatives.

“On more than one occasion our friends from other states have offered assistance following tornados and ice storms,” says Callis. “We are glad to repay their kindness. Cooperation is one of the founding principles of electric cooperatives. It is what makes us different from other utilities.”

Crews from Tennessee are joining some 5,000 electric cooperative workers from 25 states who are converging this week on the hurricane’s impact zone. This represents one of the largest coordinated electric restoration efforts in history.

“We invite you to keep these co-op heroes in your thoughts and prayers,” says Callis, “Today they are lacing up their boots, leaving their families and heading to a difficult and dangerous environment. Our lineworkers are second-to-none, and we are very proud of their desire to help those in need.”

 

Crews already departed:

  • 12 lineworkers from Appalachian Electric Cooperative, New Market
  • 8 lineworkers from Holston Electric Cooperative, Rogersville
  • 9 lineworkers from Plateau Electric Cooperative, Onieda

 

Departing today, Sept. 12, at 1:00 p.m.:

 

  • 12 lineworkers from Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, Murfreesboro
  • 4 lineworkers from Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, Centerville
  • 9 lineworkers from Fr. Loudoun Electric Cooperative, Vonore
  • 9 lineworkers from Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, Clarksville

 

Departing Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 8:00 a.m.:

 

  • 9 lineworkers from Fayetteville Public Utilities, Fayetteville
  • 12 lineworkers from Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative, South Pittsburg
  • 8 lineworkers from Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, Trenton
  • 8 lineworkers from Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative, Savannah
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Conover wins Klinefelter award

The Tennessee Magazine editor recognized for lifetime
of achievement in cooperative communications

Conover, seated, is the recipient of the 2017 H. E. Klinefelter Award presented by the Cooperative Communicators Association.

[Baton Rouge] – Robin Conover, editor of The Tennessee Magazine, is the 2017 recipient of the H. E. Klinefelter Award. The award was presented Tuesday, June 6, at the Cooperative Communicators Association Institute in Baton Rouge. The Klinefelter Award is presented annually to a communicator who excels in telling the story of cooperatives.

“Robin uses her talents to document the remarkable people and natural beauty of rural Tennessee,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “As the editor of our official publication, hundreds of thousands of people enjoy her work each month in the pages of The Tennessee Magazine. We are fortunate to have Robin on our team, and we celebrate with her on this well-deserved recognition.”

The Tennessee Magazine is the official publication of the electric cooperatives of Tennessee and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. The magazine is distributed to more than 650,000 homes each month, making it the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Conover joined the staff of the magazine in 1988 and became editor in 2002.

In addition to the Klinefelter Award, the TECA communications department also received awards for Photo of the Year, Cover of the Year, as well as first place awards for column writing, headline writing and social media; second place awards for featurette writing and photo essay; and third place awards for photo feature photography.

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Holiday weekend storms leave 50,000 co-op members without power

Severe storms roared through the Volunteer State on Saturday evening, May 27, leaving more than 50,000 co-op members across the state without power. Wind speeds exceeding 95 miles per hour were recorded in some locations, bringing down trees, breaking poles and snapping power lines.

Crews worked through the holiday weekend to repair the significant damage. Tennessee’s electric cooperatives appreciate the assistance of Nolin RECC from Kentucky, which sent crews to assist with the restoration efforts.

“Severe weather events like this remind us of the resilience and dedication of Tennessee’s electric cooperatives,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “When their communities were in need, co-op lineworkers gave up their holiday weekend, put on their gear and went to work. They have responded with efficiency and professionalism, and we appreciate their efforts.”

On Tuesday morning, May 30, fewer than 1,000 members remain without power. Co-ops expect to restore power to all meters capable of being reconnected by later today.

 

 

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Broadband – What do we do now?

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Taking co-op message to D.C. lawmakers

Sixty-five Tennesseans joined 2,100 co-op leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Legislative Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 25 and 26. Co-op directors, managers and senior staff visited with Tennessee’s congressional delegation to discuss energy supply, rural infrastructure, broadband, tax policy and other issues important to co-ops.

During an address at the conference, Energy Secretary Rick Perry hailed electric cooperatives for delivering affordable, reliable electricity to rural America and encouraged them to advocate on their challenges, especially grid security. “We have the greatest electric grid in the world,” Perry said, “and we need to keep it that way.”

“From energy and economic development to broadband and rural commerce, co-ops have a significant impact on Tennessee’s rural communities,” says David Callis, executive vice president of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “The decisions made in D.C. matter, and it is important for co-ops to be engaged. I appreciate the co-op leaders from across the state who joined us on Capitol Hill to tell the co-op story.”

Co-op leaders met with U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker as well as Reps. Black, Blackburn, Duncan, Desjarlais, Fleischmann, Kustoff and Roe.

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Broadband Accessibility Act Passes General Assembly

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee House of Representatives tonight passed the Broadband Accessibility Act on a 93 to 4 vote. The legislation now moves to Gov. Bill Haslam for his signature.

“Access to high-speed internet has the potential to shape the future of rural Tennessee,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Gov. Haslam, Sen. Mark Norris and Rep. David Hawk have been tireless advocates for this legislation. We appreciate them and everyone who showed their support for the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act and the people of rural Tennessee.”

The Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act removes restrictions that currently prevent electric cooperatives from providing retail internet access. More than 800,000 Tennesseans, many of whom live in areas served by electric co-ops, do not have access to high-speed internet.

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides leadership, advocacy and support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Trent Scott | Vice President of Strategy | 615.515.5534 | [email protected]

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Co-ops bring young leaders to Nashville

More than 45 high school juniors from across the state attended the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Youth Leadership Summit March 13–15 in Nashville.

Sen. Jim Tracy on Tuesday, March 14, greeted delegates attending the three-day leadership and government workshop. Tracy welcomed the young leaders to the Senate Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol where Alan Whittington, assistant chief clerk of the Senate, explained the process required to pass legislation. Students had the opportunity to debate and vote on a mock bill.

Reps. Mike Bell and John Ray Clemmons joined Sen. Tracy for a town hall meeting with attendees. The three discussed the legislative process and answered questions posed by summit attendees. Delegates then had the opportunity to listen in on debate in House and Senate committee meetings in Legislative Plaza.

In addition to a hands-on look at state government, delegates to the event learned team-building and problem-solving skills and developed a better understanding of their local electric cooperatives.

“I have learned a lot about the Senate and House of Representatives and how laws are passed,” says  Sarah Shoate, a junior from Adamsville High School attending the Youth Leadership Summit. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to come here and improve my leadership skills. I’m grateful for Pickwick Electric Cooperative. My co-op really does a lot to make sure leaders of tomorrow get the opportunities they deserve.”

Delegates to the Youth Leadership Summit are encouraged to be leaders and use their talents to improve rural Tennessee. “Local electric co-ops, school officials and guidance counselors chose these deserving students to attend the summit based on their interests in government and strong leadership abilities,” says Todd Blocker, vice president of member relations for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and director of the Youth Leadership Summit. “They will be the next generation of leaders in rural Tennessee, and we want to prepare them for the challenges and opportunities they will face.”

“We want these students to share our passion for rural Tennessee and help them appreciate the things that make our rural communities special,” says David Callis, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Each year we are encouraged by the caliber of young people who call rural Tennessee ‘home.’”

 

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Co-ops Respond to Governor’s Broadband Plan

NASHVILLE – Today Governor Bill Haslam announced the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, a part of the NextTennessee legislative agenda. The plan outlines efforts to expand broadband access in Tennessee, including lifting restrictions that currently prevent electric co-ops from providing retail broadband service.

“The Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act acknowledges the unique role electric co-ops can play in expanding access to broadband,” said David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “We are honored that the governor recognizes the deep roots co-ops have in rural and suburban Tennessee, and we look forward to working with the members of the 110th General Assembly to expand connectivity and opportunity.”

Electric cooperatives are consumer-owned, not-for-profit energy companies. There are 23 electric co-ops in Tennessee that provide energy to 2.5 million Tennesseans across 71 percent of that state’s landmass. Co-ops serve areas with the greatest need for expanded broadband access, but legal restrictions currently prevent co-ops from providing retail broadband service.

Co-op members are encouraged to visit takeactionTN.com to sign up for updates about broadband expansion in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides legislative and communication support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

 

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Contact:
Trent Scott | Vice President of Corporate Strategy | [email protected] | 731.608.1519

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110th Tennessee General Assembly app now available

Legislative directory app connects Tennesseans with elected officials

NASHVILLE – Tennesseans interested in government and politics have a powerful, pocket-sized tool for connecting with their elected representatives.

The 110th Tennessee General Assembly app features a continually updated, searchable database of contact, staff and committee information as well as photos, leadership roles and social media profiles for members of the Tennessee House and Senate.  The app also contains information on the governor and his cabinet and the Tennessee Congressional delegation.

Developed by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, the 99-cent app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices and can be found by searching for “Tennessee General Assembly” in the Apple App Store or Google PLAY Marketplace.

newphone“We have produced print directories of the General Assembly for more decades, and this is our fifth year to release an app,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “It is important for Tennesseans to be active and involved with their elected officials, and the app is a tool that makes it easy to speak up on issues that are important.”

“The app is ideal for anyone who wants to monitor the activities at the state Capitol and is designed to be the best reference possible for those who are interested in or work with Tennessee legislators,” says Dick Lodge, partner with Bass Berry & Sims PLC.

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides legislative and communication support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

 

App Store
Google Play

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Contact:
Trent Scott | Vice President of Corporate Strategy | [email protected] | 731.608.1519

Images:
Download high resolution graphics of the app icon and the app.

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Broadband Communications Plan

You do not have access to this content. Please contact Trent Scott at [email protected] for more information on the broadband communications plan.
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Legislature expected to bring big changes

When the 110th General Assembly gavels into session on January 10th, a number of issues of importance to electric co-ops stand to become major points of focus for lawmakers.  After the first week’s formalities and announcements of committee assignments, there will be a two-week recess to move offices and re-organize. Then, the session will kick into high gear as Governor Haslam will deliver his State of the State address on the first day that Members return to Nashville.

Currently, the State has a budget surplus of over $1 billion. The State of the State typically focuses on the Governor’s budget priorities, and this year’s address should provide no shortage of ideas on how to budget those surplus funds. The following day, January 31, will be TECA’s annual Day on the Hill and Legislative Reception. Attendees will witness first-hand the collective reaction of lawmakers to the new spending priorities.

In addition to passage of a budget, the Governor has publicly indicated on several occasions that he intends to focus on three large issues: transportation funding, broadband and the internet sales tax. Broadband has been a hotly debated topic at the Capitol for nearly a decade; however, most of the controversy has surrounded the role(s) of municipal electric utilities and existing private sector broadband providers. No significant legislation has passed, and pressure on lawmakers continues to increase to find solutions to the lack of adequate access to broadband in rural areas.

Meanwhile, both the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations have conducted studies to gauge the extent of the problem. ECD’s study found that 34 percent of rural Tennesseans lack access to basic broadband services, and both studies concluded that electric cooperatives are well positioned to help solve the problem but face legal restrictions from doing so.

Governor Haslam convened an inter-agency task force to discuss the topic and heard presentations from many interested parties, including electric cooperatives. While the final language is not yet available, it is expected that the Governor will propose comprehensive legislation to the General Assembly for consideration this year. We expect this legislation will include repealing laws that currently prohibit electric cooperatives from offering broadband internet service.

This would be the most significant and far-reaching legislation involving electric cooperatives in decades. Other broadband bills, in addition to the one brought by the Administration, could be introduced by other members of the Legislature.

While the legislative process is always difficult to predict, there should be a number of other bills that are of interest to co-ops. Legislation concerning net metering and third-party solar financing are anticipated to return in 2017. Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge), should re-file his bill to create a Tennessee Energy Policy Council. The Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association is expected to again pursue changes that would require a public referendum in any instance of the sale of a municipal electric plant. We will be watching for any potential state-level reaction to Nashville’s passage of a “One-Touch Make Ready” ordinance (also called “Climb Once”) regarding the process for making new pole attachments.  Increased interest in small-cell technology by the wireless phone industry could result in pole-attachment related legislation.

TECA’s Government Affairs team is prepared and looking forward to working with co-ops across the state through what could be a history-making legislative session.

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Call for Nominations: TCC Young Leaders Conference

Once again it’s time to choose your cooperative’s couples (or individuals) to attend the 2017 Tennessee Young Leaders Conference on Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25, at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Franklin, Tennessee.  Please pass this information along as soon as possible to the person in your organization who is responsible for couple selection.

This highly regarded conference is a combined effort of the Tennessee Council of Cooperatives (TCC) and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers organization.  Your TCC dues cover the conference registration fee, hotel room cost and cost of conference meals.  All information is available at tennesseecouncilofcoops.org. I would encourage you to review the exciting agenda which has been included with this announcement.  Once again, the 2017 YLC is lining up to be one of the most diversified events ever assembled by the TCC and we hope that you will send an outstanding couple or individual who will benefit and appreciate this unique educational opportunity.  And as an added bonus the host hotel is located at the Drury Plaza in Cool Springs / Franklin TN, an area that has something to offer everyone!

TCC’s annual conference provides cooperatives across the state a unique opportunity to educate its young leaders regarding the benefits of cooperatives.  Your council has worked hard to build a foundation of appreciation and support for existing cooperatives among conference participants.  Those attending the 2017 conference will be exposed to ideas and information that will enable them to add value to their own businesses, form new niche cooperatives with others in their communities, and meet the challenges of the future with cooperative marketing innovations.

More than ever, to be selected for this conference should be considered a true honor and opportunity for your participants.  We encourage you to carefully select attendees.  Sending outstanding people to this conference may be your single most important outreach activity to ensure that the cooperative way of doing business remains strong in the future.

Couple(s) or person(s) chosen should be:

  • under 50 years of age
  • interested member(s) of your cooperative
  • persons who will benefit from this educational experience

For attendees with young children, childcare will be provided during the meeting sessions.

Please select your representatives, complete a copy of the attached registration form in full and mail, e-mail, or fax it to the TCC’s Administrative Secretary-Treasurer Roberta Smith no later than Wednesday February 1, 2017.  We will need one registration form per couple or per single participant.  When we receive the completed registration forms, Roberta will make hotel registrations for the couple or person you have chosen.

If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact Roberta Smith at [email protected] or at the information listed on the registration form.

 

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[pdf-embedder url=”http://www.tnelectric.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-YLC-AGENDA.pdf” title=”2017-ylc-agenda”]

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