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Metcalf Named CEO of Mountain Electric Cooperative

Rodney Metcalf was recently named the new CEO of Mountain Electric Cooperative. He will begin on July 17.

Mountain City, Tenn. — Mountain Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce that Rodney Metcalf will be joining the co-op as the new Chief Executive Officer. He will begin his duties on July 17, 2023. With a proven track record of leadership and expertise in the energy industry, Mr. Metcalf brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to lead MEC into the future.

Mr. Metcalf has served multiple roles at BrightRidge Energy Authority in Johnson City, Tenn., where he spent the last nine years as the utility’s Chief Operations Officer. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strategic vision and a strong commitment to serving communities with reliable and affordable energy.

Mr. Metcalf earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business from Tusculum University, where he is currently completing an MBA.

“I am honored to join Mountain Electric Cooperative as its CEO,” said Metcalf. “The cooperative has a rich history of providing reliable and affordable electricity to its members, and I am committed to building on that legacy. Together with the dedicated team at MEC, we will work towards enhancing the cooperative’s services and fostering innovation. I am excited about the opportunity to serve the cooperative and its members.”

The Board of Directors at MEC is confident that Mr. Metcalf’s exceptional leadership qualities and deep understanding of the energy industry will guide the cooperative towards a successful future.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rodney Metcalf as the new CEO of Mountain Electric Cooperative,” said David Ellis, president of the MEC board. “His extensive experience and innovative mindset will drive MEC forward, ensuring that our members continue to receive the safe, reliable and affordable energy they deserve.”

Metcalf will be relocating to the Mountain Electric area with his wife Angie Metcalf. The Metcalf’s have two children, Brittany Gray and husband Brian Gray, Logan Metcalf and wife Madison Metcalf. They have four grandchildren.

Mountain Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 36,000 consumers across northeast Tennessee and northwest North Carolina. MEC is dedicated to providing reliable and affordable electricity to its members while actively supporting the communities it serves.

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Have a safe Father’s Day

Keep Father’s Day happy by keeping dad safe, even as he tries out his new electric gifts.

Warn your dad that home repairs can be a dangerous undertaking when electricity gets involved, so he needs to use care with electrical equipment and steer clear of power lines.

A bit of common sense and caution while working outside this spring and summer can keep everyone safe. Some tips:

  • A ladder—even a wooden one—can cause a fatal shock if it touches a power line.
  • Inspect power tools and cords for frayed or broken wires and cracked cases before plugging them in.
  • Unplug outdoor tools and appliances when you’re not using them. Store them out of reach of children.
  • Wait for things to dry off before working outdoors after it rains. Even damp grass can be dangerous when using electricity.
  • When carrying ladders, aluminum siding, poles and other long objects, look up! More than 20% of people who die in electricity-related home repair accidents have touched a power line with a ladder or building material.
  • Keep your projects at least 10 feet away from power lines.
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Knotts to serve on TVA resource plan working group

NASHVILLE –Tennessee Valley Authority recently announced that Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, will serve on its Integrated Resource Plan working group.

TVA’s IRP is a comprehensive study that provides direction on how to best meet the region’s future electricity demand. Twenty-two influential leaders from various sectors will serve on the working group.

“The partnership between electric co-ops and TVA has literally changed Tennessee,” said Knotts. “Tennessee’s rural and suburban communities and the co-ops that serve them have unique needs, and it is important that those needs are heard and understood. I applaud TVA for giving stakeholders a seat at the table to shape the future of the region’s power supply.”

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides leadership, advocacy and support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and 2.5 million consumers. The association also publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

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USDA announces $11 billion investment in rural energy innovation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled guidelines for nearly $11 billion in funds to bring affordable clean energy to rural communities. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that announcement represented the largest single federal investment in rural electrification since the New Deal.

Rural electric cooperatives, renewable energy companies and electric utilities will be able to apply for funding through two programs. The Empowering Rural America program will make $9.7 billion available for rural electric co-ops to create renewable energy, zero-emission and carbon capture systems. An additional $1 billion will be available through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program in the form of partially-forgivable loans for renewable energy companies and electric utilities to finance large-scale solar, wind and geothermal projects.

Mike Partin, CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative in South Pittsburg, Tenn., and board secretary of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, along with NRECA CEO Jim Matheson and other co-op leaders, attended a launch event at the White House today in Washington, D.C.

“This is an exciting opportunity for electric cooperatives and the communities they serve,” said Partin. “These funds will help electric co-ops build a more robust power grid while protecting our members from higher rates. We appreciate the USDA for their efforts to understand the needs of rural America.”

Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, commended the USDA’s announcement. “Rural America cannot be left behind, and targeted funds like this will ensure that we are not,” said Knotts. “These programs create a unique opportunity for electric co-ops to make strategic investments that will have a lasting impact on the people and places they serve.”

The recently issued guidance provides electric cooperatives with a timeframe, running from July 31 to Aug. 31, to submit letters of interest and initiate the application process for funding eligible projects. These projects encompass a wide range of areas such as renewable energy, carbon capture, energy storage, nuclear power, as well as improvements in generation and transmission efficiency.

In the image: RUS Administrator and former Mayor of Chattanooga, Andy Berke, left, and Mike Partin, CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative, speaking, are joined by other electric cooperative leaders at a launch event at the White House on Tuesday, May 16.

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Tennessee electric cooperatives respond to EPA’s proposed rules on power plant emissions

NASHVILLE – Today the Environmental Protection Agency released new proposed rules that target power plant emissions. Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, issued the following statement in response.

“Tennessee’s electric cooperatives are closely monitoring the impacts the EPA’s proposal will have on everyday Tennesseans,” said Knotts. “Energy is critical to Tennessee’s growing economy, and this proposal prioritizes a far-reaching environmental agenda over real needs for affordable and reliable energy.”

“Tennessee was one of nine states to experience rolling blackouts last December because the demand of energy outpaced supply. America – Tennessee included – needs new power generation, not new regulatory burden that will force the early retirement of America’s power plants and make permitting new ones more difficult. We urge the EPA to take a pragmatic approach to energy needs that prioritizes cost-effective emission reduction strategies and recognizes the importance of a diverse energy portfolio.”

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

ABOUT TECA
The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides leadership, advocacy and support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and 2.5 million consumers. The association also publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

 

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Electric cooperatives issue statement regarding EPA’s proposed rules on power plant emissions

NASHVILLE – Today the Environmental Protection Agency released new proposed rules that target power plant emissions. The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association issued the following statement in response.

Tennessee’s electric cooperatives are closely studying the impacts the EPA’s proposal will have on everyday Tennesseans. Energy is critical to Tennessee’s growing economy, and this proposal prioritizes a far-reaching environmental agenda over real needs for affordable and reliable energy.

Tennessee was one of nine states to experience rolling blackouts last December because the demand of energy outpaced supply. America – Tennessee included – needs new power generation, not new regulatory burden that will force the early retirement of America’s power plants and make permitting new ones more difficult. We urge the EPA to take a pragmatic approach to energy needs that prioritizes cost-effective emission reduction strategies and recognizes the importance of a diverse energy portfolio.

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

ABOUT TECA
The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides leadership, advocacy and support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and 2.5 million consumers. The association also publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

 

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Knotts addresses TVA Board

NORRIS, TN – Today the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors held a public listening session at the Norris Middle School in Norris, Tenn. Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, addressed the board during the listening session, and a readout of his comments is below.

Norris Middle School | Norris, TN | 2:00 p.m. EST

 

Good afternoon to each of you. My name is Mike Knotts, and I serve as the CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and represent the 25 local utilities serving nearly 3 million people who depend on their cooperative to power their community.

It is a real pleasure to be here and celebrate 90 years of TVA’s history together with you. This history is OUR history, tightly intertwined with that of the local cooperatives and cities that have connected TVA to the millions of people and business over the years.

There is no denying that the connection between TVA, local power companies, and the residents of the Tennessee Valley have made an indelible impact on the lives of generations of Americans. Our story is unique in American history. And while the issues of the day and the challenges we face may look different in 2023 than they did in 1933, we should take pride in knowing that we have literally changed history through our unchanging mission of the last 90 years. We have a great story to tell.

Taking time to reflect on this is important. Electric cooperatives innately understand and appreciate the history TVA is celebrating today because we helped shape it – both in the Valley and across the country.

When TVA was formed it was given its unique multi-faceted mission because of the specific needs of this part of the country. But, a much broader problem existed across all corners of rural America. The problem was universal rural electrification. Though cities like Memphis or Chattanooga or Knoxville had enjoyed electricity for decades, other communities and farms, like where we stand here in Norris, did not.

The solution to the national problem came in the form of the cooperative. Self-owned, private corporations that are built for the benefit of its customers. Governed by its owners. Founded on seven bedrock principles and focused on the local community. While cooperatives were not a new idea – the seven cooperative principles were first enumerated during the industrial revolution in England – cooperatives were the right idea then and continue to be the relevant idea today.

Today, TECA members serve consumers across the state of Tennessee, covering almost 75% of the state’s land mass. In addition, these same 25 utilities also serve significant portions of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia – as well some circuits in Alabama and Mississippi.  If you are keeping count, yes, that is all seven states. Collectively, these 25 locally-owned utilities provide TVA approximately 25 percent of its revenues – well over $3B dollars per year.

You know, each of the grainy, black and white photos hanging in this room has its own story to tell and lessons to be learned. I’m particularly fond of that one (gesturing to the right), as it bears a striking resemblance to my late grandmother.

And as we all know to be true, those who do not learn from the past are most certainly doomed to repeat it. So, allow me to encourage each of you to learn from the achievements we recognize today.

But let me also encourage each of you look forward – with purpose and passion – knowing that your role on this Board is important and meaningful to millions of people. Our future won’t be told though grainy, black and white photos. Our future is being determined in real time in 4k video, and our inter-connected world allows it to be seen by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Please know that your electric cooperative customers stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and are ready to work with you to ensure that TVA’s strategic direction remains focused on what is best for the people we jointly serve. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Please call on me anytime I can be of assistance to you.

 

 

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6 ways to cool off a hot room

  1. Keep heat and sunlight out of indoor rooms during the day by closing windows and window coverings.
  2. Open those same windows overnight to let cool, nighttime air into your house.
  3. If some windows are naturally shaded by trees or shadows, open them during the day. Opening more than one can create a cross-breeze that will quickly cool off the house.
  4. Switch the direction of ceiling fan blades. In the summer, blades should spin counterclockwise to push cool air down into the room. Turn the fans off when nobody is in the room.
  5. Add an energy-efficient portable dehumidifier to a room that tends to be too warm. Humidity can make a hot room feel even hotter. Removing the humidity makes the room feel cooler.
  6. Use the microwave or outdoor grill to cook dinner. Heat-producing indoor appliances like the stove, dishwasher and clothes dryer lose a lot of heat to the air in the room. Wait until after dark when it’s cooler outdoors to turn on appliances.
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Teach kids about electrical safety

It’s never too early to teach your children about the potential dangers of electricity and how to live and play safely around it indoors and outdoors. 

Here’s a suggested list of non-negotiable rules to share with your little ones: 

  • Keep fingers and other objects out of wall outlets. 
  • Dry your hands before touching or plugging in anything electrical. 
  • Plug only one device into each socket in an electrical outlet.  
  • Remove plugs from outlets by gripping the plug, not the cord. 
  • Don’t touch or climb on any outdoor electrical equipment in your own yard or elsewhere. 
  • Fly kites and drones far away from power lines. 
  • Stay away from trees that have electrical lines running through or near them. 
  • Never touch a power line that has fallen to the ground. 
  • Ask for help understanding safety instructions when playing with new electrical toys or using new electronics. 
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Dusty indoor air? Your ducts might be leaking

If the air inside your house is dusty, it might mean your air conditioning ducts have sprung leaks.  

If you’re changing your air conditioner filter regularly, it will trap dust and pollutants that get into the indoor air so they never make their way into the duct system—or back into the air.  

But if the ducts have tiny holes or cracks or joints that aren’t well-sealed, dust can bypass the filter and sneak directly into the ducts. Once dust gets in there, the duct system will blow it all over the house. 

Dust in the ducts and in the air can raise the temperature in your home and force your air conditioning system to operate inefficiently and struggle to keep your home cool during the summer. 

It’s well worth it to have the ducts of your air conditioning system sealed at the joints. 

Not only will it prevent dust from flying around your house, it could reduce your air conditioning bills this summer. The average house loses about 20 percent of its conditioned air through ducts that are improperly installed or are leaking at the joints. 

A house with “clean” air also is less likely to trigger dust and pollen allergies to family members while they’re indoors. 

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Safety May is Electrical Safety Month

May is National Electrical Safety Month and a good time to sweep your home for electrical safety risks. Here are five that many homeowners overlook: 

  1. Unplug and store all extension cords. They are not designed for prolonged use. If yours are hiding under carpets, they could overheat or get stepped on and damaged, and that can start a fire.
  2. If you have more than one power strip plugged into an outlet, chances are good that you are overloading your circuits, especially if you live in an older house. If you don’t have enough outlets, ask a licensed electrician to add more.
  3. Kitchen countertop appliances should be plugged into three-prong, GFCI receptacles. Any electric appliance that you use near water could shock or even electrocute someone.
  4. Change the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year and test them monthly to make sure they’re operating properly.
  5. Did you know table lamps and overhead light fixtures are designed for specific light bulb wattages? Check yours and change any lightbulb whose wattage exceeds the fixture’s capacity.
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Co-op leaders discuss energy, infrastructure with D.C. lawmakers

Washington, D.C. – A group of electric cooperative leaders from Tennessee traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with lawmakers and advocate for policies that could impact co-ops communities. The delegation was made up of board members, executives, and other leaders from electric cooperatives across Tennessee.

The primary goal of the meetings was to raise awareness among lawmakers about the unique needs and challenges faced by rural communities in Tennessee. Specifically, electric cooperative leaders discussed policies related to energy, infrastructure and broadband access, which are critical to the economic development and well-being of Tennessee’s rural and suburban communities.

“Bringing electric co-op leaders together with lawmakers in our nation’s capital is critical to ensuring the reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and infrastructure that our communities depend on,” said Keith Carnahan, President and CEO of Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative and Chairman of the TECA board of trustees. “This is an opportunity for us to advocate for policies that support the needs of rural and suburban Tennessee.”

While in D.C., co-op leaders met with Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty as well as Reps. Burchett, Desjarlais, Fleischmann, Harshbarger, Kustoff and Rose.

“We are proud to support electric cooperatives as they advocate for the needs of rural Tennessee,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “These discussions are an opportunity to showcase the important work of co-ops and ensure that policymakers in Washington understand the vital roles they play in their communities.”

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Tennessee Electric Cooperatives Announce Support for Gov. Lee’s Nuclear Development Incentive Plan

NASHVILLE – In February, Gov. Lee and his administration proposed a $50 million budget allocation to assist with growing, recruiting and attracting nuclear companies to Tennessee.

Tennessee’s electric cooperatives support the Nuclear Energy Supply Chain Investment Fund as proposed in the administration’s budget. For nearly a century, electric cooperatives have distributed affordable energy with high reliability to rural and suburban areas of Tennessee. The Lee Administration’s plan will only help cooperatives continue that important mission, and TECA commends their work to prioritize innovation in the area of reliable, affordable and safe energy production.

“Tennessee’s electric cooperatives share Gov. Lee’s vision that Tennessee should lead the nation in nuclear energy production and related industries,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Since 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority has been a global leader in energy innovation, and we believe that standard of excellence will continue. This proposed investment of $50 million will help transform Tennessee’s nuclear sector.”

Electric cooperatives encourage the General Assembly to support this provision within Gov. Lee’s proposed budget.

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Tennessee creates permanent Lineworker Appreciation Day

NASHVILLE – Today Tennessee becomes the first state in the nation to formally adopt a standing Lineworker Appreciation Day. The second Monday of April of each year has been codified into state law as a day to show appreciation for the state’s 3,500 electric lineworkers.

Dozens of lineworkers from across the state were at the State Capitol today to be honored by members of the Tennessee General Assembly. They were welcomed by Sen. Paul Bailey and Rep. Clark Boyd, sponsors of the legislation creating the day of appreciation, along with Secretary of State Tre Hargett in a special ceremony in the Old Supreme Court Chambers. Later they were recognized from the floor of the House of Representatives.

“You should be honored and appreciated for what you do on a daily basis,” said Sen. Paul Bailey.

“Today we’re being recognized at the State Capitol for what we do, and I consider that to be a great honor,” said Greg Allison, a lineworker for Middle Tennessee Electric. “I love this career, I love the management that I have had in this industry, and I am very appreciative for what it has given me and my family.”

Electric lineworker is consistently ranked among the most dangerous jobs in America. “Safe and reliable energy is a critical part of Tennessee’s economy,” says Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, “and lineworkers are the guardians of that infrastructure. Their tireless efforts, often in the face of extreme weather conditions and challenging environments, keep the lights on and our homes, businesses, and communities powered. We owe a debt of gratitude to these brave men and women who work so hard to ensure our safety and well-being.”

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Get your house ready for spring

It won’t be too long until you can open the windows and start enjoying fresh air and warm weather. Is your house ready?

Here are five items to add to your springtime to-do list that might help your home feel more comfortable and cared for before it gets hot:

  1. Call a qualified service technician to inspect and maintain your air conditioning system. Paying $100 or so now could prevent a huge expense this summer if your system breaks down on a hot day and you have to have it repaired or replaced in a hurry. Maintenance goes a long way toward preventing emergencies and can prolong the life of your equipment.
  2. While you’re outdoors planting and pruning, trim all of the bushes and pull all of the weeds near your air conditioner’s outside condenser unit. Remove any fallen tree limbs that landed on it, brush off leaves that have collected on or around it, and pick up trash that found its way there as it sat unused all winter. Anything that touches the unit and prevents air from circulating around it will make it perform inefficiently.
  3. While you’ve got your shovel and spade out, consider planting some shade trees on the sunny side of your house. As they grow, they will filter the sunrays that can beat so fiercely on your windows in the summer and make your air conditioner work harder.
  4. Speaking of windows, if your house still has single-pane versions, this is a good time to replace them with double-pane models. Single-pane windows are energy inefficient and can drive your air conditioning bills through the roof. You could save several hundred dollars on cooling and heating bills every year if you replace your drafty, old windows.
  5. Clean your windows, inside and out. Newer models are simple to clean because you can tilt them toward the inside of the house so you can reach both sides. Clean windows let more sunlight into your house, which means you won’t have to turn on as many lights.
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Tame the humidity in your home’s air

Condensation, “fog” or frost on your home’s windows is a sure sign that they’re too inefficient to keep cold air out in the winter and in during the summer.

Moisture in the air condenses when it touches a cold surface, causing the glass to “sweat” like a cold glass of iced tea on a hot day. Condensation can form on the glass and even pool on the window sill. And like any excess moisture, it can eventually lead to mold and mildew. It also can damage your windows over time.

One solution: Replace drafty, single-pane windows with double-pane versions that are more energy efficient. If that’s not an option right now, install storm windows to add an extra layer of glass, and try taming the humidity inside your home. Here’s how:

  1. Install ventilating fans in every bathroom, and turn them on before every shower. Let the fan run until the “fog” clears out of the bathroom, but no longer. Overuse of exhaust fans can send your home’s comfy, air-conditioned or heated air right out of the house.
  2. Use the hood fan over your stove when you cook. Cooking sends moisture into the air—along with lingering odors. The fan will rid your home of those smells and humidity. Again, run the fan just long enough to clear the air.
  3. Vent your clothes dryer to the outside. Check the duct for leaks, especially at the point where it’s attached to the dryer, and for obstructions that can prevent hot dryer air from escaping to the outdoors.
  4. If you run humidifiers inside the home, don’t overdo it. It’s possible to add too much moisture to indoor air.
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Unsung Heroes

Mike Knotts
CEO, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association

If you ask elementary school-aged children to write about their heroes, you might get quite an amusing grouping of subjects — cartoon superheroes, fictional characters, sports stars and other larger-than-life characters. A heartwarming hand-drawn picture of a student’s mom or dad might even make its way onto the page.

Give that same assignment to a young adult, and the subjects will likely become much more real-life. Soldiers. Firefighters. Police. Doctors and nurses. People dedicated to serving others and willing to accept some degree of risk.

This dedication can cost them. Sacrifices like time away from loved ones, physical discomfort, injuries and sometimes even risk of death are everyday life for these special people. And while these heroes rarely ever seek recognition, we hold parades and ceremonies for them on special days.

We do these things because the gratitude is earned. As I have grown older, though, I have recognized that there are heroes among us who don’t receive that kind of appreciation. And most who fit this category don’t seek appreciation for their heroics. And to me, that makes the recognition all the more deserved.

I am thinking of people like Rick Courtner and Cody Bryant. These amazing employees of Mountain Electric Cooperative, along with several of their colleagues, had no idea that their normal day at work in February 2020 would find them at the dramatic scene of a motorist trapped in ferocious floodwaters. Local EMS had no way to make a swift water rescue. All that prevented tragedy that day were the selfless actions of people who cared. But as the news report documenting the event concluded, these heroes “see their actions as so unremarkable, they don’t remember what happened afterward … they just packed up the truck.”

Read the story here. “Unremarkable” is the last thing I believe you will say after you see the video. “Heroic” is the word that comes to mind.

But this was nothing unusual for them. Rick and Cody and thousands of their colleagues across our state are already unsung heroes. They are electric lineworkers. An average day for a lineworker — one of the world’s most dangerous jobs — can include all of the common threads that make us show so much respect for a soldier or a firefighter or other easily recognizable hero. Keeping electricity flowing is done through hard work, long hours and dangerous conditions. And almost everything we do in modern society depends upon their efforts.

I am happy to report that the Tennessee General Assembly has recognized the important roles lineworkers play in daily life. The second Monday in April of each year — April 10 this year — is now designated as Tennessee Lineworker Appreciation Day to honor and recognize lineworkers for their estimable work in providing for the safety and well-being of this state’s citizens. I am grateful to Sen. Paul Bailey of Sparta and Rep. Clark Boyd of Lebanon for sponsoring the legislation and to each and every member of the General Assembly, which unanimously passed it.

While most of the lineworkers I know don’t seek recognition, I hope you will join me in providing it to them anyway. They deserve it.

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Young leaders learn about public policy during Youth Leadership Summit

NASHVILLE – Forty-three high school students were in Nashville this week for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. The juniors were chosen by school guidance counselors and sponsored by their local electric cooperatives.

Delegates to the annual event receive a hands-on look at state government, learn networking and leadership skills and develop a better understanding of their local electric cooperatives.

While in Nashville, the students visited the State Capitol Building where they were welcomed by Secretary of State Tre Hargett and members of the Tennessee General Assembly. Summit attendees held a mock legislative session in the Senate Chambers, debating and voting on a bill they developed. In addition to lawmakers, students heard from leaders like Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen, Jane Marie Franks, and trooper Shane Moore and K-9 Officer Sumo with the Tennessee Executive Protection Detail.

The Youth Leadership Summit also included a day of leadership training at the Joe C. Davis YMCA Outdoor Center and a behind-the-scenes tour of Bridgestone Arena prior to a Nashville Predators game.

Delegates to the Youth Leadership Summit are encouraged to be leaders in their hometowns and use their talents to improve rural Tennessee.

“The Youth Leadership Summit gives the brightest students in rural and suburban Tennessee the opportunity to expand their leadership skills,” says Todd Blocker, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association vice president of member relations and director of the Youth Leadership Summit. “These young people will be the next generation of leaders in rural Tennessee, and I commend electric co-ops for supporting this effort to prepare young people for the future.”

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SVEC’s Partin elected Secretary-Treasurer of NRECA

NASHVILLE – This week Mike Partin, president and CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Membership Corporation in South Pittsburg, was elected secretary-treasurer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Board of Directors.

NRECA is a trade association that represents more than 900 electric cooperatives across the nation. The association’s mission is to promote, support and protect the community and business interests of electric cooperatives.

Partin is the first NRECA board officer from Tennessee to be elected in more than 25 years. As an officer on the NRECA board, he will influence policy-making that impacts electric cooperatives as well as the direction of the industry on a national scale.

“Tennessee’s electric co-ops congratulate Mike on this extraordinary accomplishment,” says Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “He has been a leader among the state’s electric cooperatives for many years, and we’re excited to learn that he will now be representing Tennessee on a national level. NRECA will benefit from his knowledge of our industry and his passion for rural communities.”

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Spring cleaning equals energy savings

Many of your once-a-year spring cleaning chores can save energy all year round. Some examples:

  • Clean windows inside and out. The cleaner the panes are, the more sunlight can shine through them, making it less necessary to turn on lights and run space heaters in the spring.
  • Replace the air filters in your HVAC system. If they’re full of dust, dirt and pet hair, air will have a hard time passing through them. Poor airflow makes your air conditioner work harder to do its job.
  • Clear fallen branches and leaves and other debris that might have fallen on the outdoor unit of your air conditioning system over the winter. For the unit to work properly, air needs to circulate around it.
  • Climb a ladder and dust ceiling fan blades. When the fan starts running, it can knock accumulated dust into your room, which is bad for air quality and can wind up in in your air conditioning vents or filters.
  • Snake your dryer vent or hire a pro to do it for you.
  • Pull your refrigerator slightly out from the wall and vacuum behind it. If your fridge has exposed coils, vacuum those, too.
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