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Co-op Biscuits & Bluegrass Brunch Welcomes General Assembly to Nashville

Tennessee’s electric cooperatives hosted the inaugural Biscuits & Bluegrass brunch this morning to honor and welcome members of the Tennessee General Assembly on the first day of the 114th General Assembly. Held in Nashville at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, the event brought together legislators, their families and Tennessee leaders to celebrate the start of the legislative session with a bang.

Over 1,000 of Loveless Cafe’s iconic biscuits were served alongside jams, Nashville hot chicken and Frothy Monkey coffee. The event drew over 500 attendees from all corners of Tennessee. A highlight of the morning was the ceremonial “flipping of the switch” by Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, symbolizing the official start of the legislative session.

“It is great to have the opportunity to play such an instrumental role in welcoming back the general assembly to session,” Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, said. “Electric cooperatives have always been interwoven into the fabric of their communities, and I’m glad we are able to use this event to apply that same philosophy of community engagement on a statewide level.“

The General Assembly later gaveled in at noon, as is required by the Tennessee State Constitution. It is expected that lawmakers will meet through the week before adjourning on Thursday for a two week recess in order to re-organize following committee and leadership assignments. There’s also significant speculation about whether or not Gov. Lee will call for a special session to ask the legislature to consider his education scholarship program. If a special session materializes, it will likely occur during the two week recess period.

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Enjoying Wild Game and Focusing on Safety

Camel, alligator meat and safety instruction all came together this year for Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative’s 12thannual Wild Game Safety Luncheon. Each year the co-op hosts the event to celebrate its employees and their valued partners’ commitment to working safely.

225 people were in attendance this year and enjoyed wild game contributed and prepared by co-op employees and industry professionals from around the county. This event is much more than enjoying delicious and unique food though – it’s about the comradery that gathering together brings.

“We work in a demanding industry and sometimes it is hard to slow down, celebrate what’s been done and have those hard conversations,” Mike Partin, SVEC President and CEO, says. “Electricity is an unforgiving force, and it is of the utmost importance that our employees do not become complacent in the part they play in coming home safely each night to their family.”

Zach Spicer as the keynote speaker was able to drive home that point this year. Spicer is a safety instructor at Job Training and Safety. He shared with those in the room about his road to recovery after being electrocuted and burned on the job. Spicer shared about the toll his mistake took on not only himself, but the loved ones around him, bringing into focus the real dangers of this trade.

“I am proud of Team SVEC and the job they do. I commend them for their safety and continued focus every day,” Partin says.

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Middle Tennessee Electric Announces New Fast Chargers at Murfreesboro Office

Middle Tennessee Electric has announced the installation of four new fast chargers for electric vehicles at its Murfreesboro office. This marks the second of the three DC fast charger installations in the cooperative’s service area and is an effort to accelerate electric vehicle infrastructure as demand increases.

“Co-ops have an important role to play in educating our members about how to fuel their electric vehicles,” Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, said. “Ideally, that happens at their home at night, but those who don’t have access to charge at their homes, publicly available charging infrastructure is critical. Installations like MTE’s new level 3 chargers will help more co-op members utilize their EV’s if they decide to drive electric.”

The first installation was put in back in March of 2024 at the Lebanon office on Maddox-Simpson Parkway. The latest addition is located at MTE’s central office, 555 New Salem Highway in Murfreesboro. The third is planned for the Franklin office on Edward Curd Lane and is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter.

“As more Tennesseans switch to electric vehicles, it’s essential to provide infrastructure that is not only ready for the demands of today but adaptable for the future,” Brandon Wagoner, MTE’s manager of strategy execution and analytics, said.

The fast chargers at the new Murfreesboro location feature dual connectors, offering both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging options. Those support a wide range of electric vehicles, including Tesla models. Three of the chargers have NACS on the second connector. The fourth charger has a CHArge de Move (CHAdeMO) connector to meet grant requirements. CHAdeMO is used for DC fast charging on the Nissan Leaf. Many manufacturers are switching to NACS connectors this year and these chargers are designed to be backward compatible.

“By investing in high-capacity chargers with reliable self-healing technology and grid-supportive battery systems, we’re laying the groundwork for sustainable EV travel across the state,” Wagoner said.

These fast charger installations are part of the Fast Charge TN Network, which is a collaborative effort from the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Seven States Power Corporation and local TVA power companies.

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Union University Honors Amanda Bean With $10,000 Washington Youth Tour Scholarship

JACKSON – Union University is pleased to announce that Amanda Bean of Morristown, Tenn. is the recipient of the school’s second $10,000 Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing Competition scholarship.

“These are the future leaders that we want at Union,” Robbie Graves, Union University’s assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions, says. “We believe that delegates to the Washington Youth Tour develop skills that will help them succeed here at Union and beyond. We are glad to partner with the state’s electric co-ops to provide scholarships to these young people. We particularly congratulate Amanda Bean on her outstanding achievements. She is an exceptional young lady.”

Bean, a student from the Holston Electric Cooperative service territory had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. as a part of the 2024 Washington Youth Tour to learn more about leadership, history and public policy.

“At Holston Electric Cooperative, we are proud to support and participate in programs like the Washington Youth Tour, which not only exposes our students to the workings of our government but also help shape the future of our community,” Jimmy Sandlin, HEC’s general manager, says. “This scholarship is not only a significant achievement for Amanda. This is a direct result of the collaboration between TECA, cooperatives like ours and Union University, all working together to create opportunities for local students. Programs like the Washington Youth Tour are part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the next generation of leaders. By supporting educational initiatives like these, Holston Electric Cooperative helps create a brighter future for our students and our community as a whole.”

Bean, along with 6,000 other high school students from across the state, have participated in the Electric Cooperative Creative Writing and Scholarship Competition since its start in the 1960s.

“The Washington Youth Tour has opened so many doors for me,” Bean says. “I never expected to create lasting relationships or to win scholarship money.  Winning the $10,000 per year scholarship for Union University through the WYT has been absolutely amazing and will help make college more affordable. This trip has taught me there are so many benefits when I step out of my comfort zone. I encourage everyone to write the essay!”

The scholarship is part of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s partnership with both Carson Newman and Union University. Union University has also awarded four $4,000 Washington Youth Tour scholarship winners: Allison Hoesel of Middle Tennessee Electric, Alexis Hale of Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, David Jones of Appalachian Electric Cooperative and Clark French of Forked Deer Electric Cooperative.

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Winter Storm Electrical Safety

While winter weather can be beautiful to behold, fun to play in and gets the kids out of school, it can lead to the threat of ice and ultimately, electrical hazards. As you keep an eye on the weather forecast, here are some tips to be mindful of to keep you and your family safe this winter.

Regularly Check Trees. Heavy snow and ice can bring trees and branches down onto power lines, which could lead to power outages during extremely cold temperatures. Do a regular check of trees around your property, and call your co-op to come trim branches when needed.

Inspect Space Heaters. Likely, when you pull the space heater back out of the closet or garage, it will need to be cleaned and checked. Inspect for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If the cord is frayed or damaged, do not use the heater.

Use Portable Generators Safely. Do not operate a portable generator in your home, basement or garage. They can quickly produce high levels of carbon monoxide which can result in death. Fans or open windows won’t provide enough fresh air to keep you safe.

Beware Of Downed Power Lines. Call your co-op immediately. Always assume downed power lines are energized. Stay away from the line and any nearby objects that might be touching the line like a fence or tree limb. Do not attempt to move the downed power line.

Stay In Your Vehicle. If you must get out in a winter storm, use the utmost caution. If you lose control of your vehicle and hit a power pole, stay in your car, unless it is on fire. Getting out of your car puts you at risk for shock. If you must get out, do not touch your vehicle. Jump with your feet together and hop away. The Electrical Safety Authority recommends staying back the length of a school bus from the downed power line.

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Tips to prepare for extreme cold weather

NASHVILLE –A major arctic weather system is expected to bring the coldest air of the season to the region through the weekend and next week. Tennessee’s electric cooperatives urge you to plan accordingly. Here are some important tips to prepare your home for cold weather.

Prepare your Home

Inside Your Home

  • Open cabinets doors in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow warm air to circulate around the water pipes.
  • Allow faucets along exterior walls to drip a small amount of water. Running water will prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Ensure that your home has some minimum heat, even if you are away.

Outside

  • Cover or close foundation vents.
  • Drain and store water hoses.
  • Protect outdoor faucets and pipes with insulation. If pipe insulation is not available, use newspapers, rags, trash bags or other household items to create a layer of protection.
  • Familiarize yourself with your water shut off valve and have the tools necessary to close it if necessary.
  • Turn off power to your water heater before draining pipes.

 

Energy Saving Tips

Energy consumption can spike during periods of extremely cold weather. Even with your thermostat set at the same temperature, the greater the difference between inside and outside temperatures, the more your heating system must work to maintain a comfortable living space. Here are some tips to save energy during periods of extreme cold weather.

Set your thermostat to 65 degrees. You can drop it even lower if you plan to be away from home.

Use drapes to control temperatures. Open drapes to allow sunlight to warm your home. Close them in the evening to retain heat.

Seal cracks. Use towels or other materials to seal cracks around windows or under doors to prevent cold air from entering your space.

Be sure air filters are clean. Your heating and cooling system runs more during periods of extreme weather, and that means that your air filters can become dirty much quicker. Dirty air filters make your heating system run less efficiently, and that can have a big impact on comfort and your energy bill.

 

 

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