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.
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.
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.
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.
# # #
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.
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
6 ways to cool off a hot room
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:
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.
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:
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.”
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.
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.”
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:
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:
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.
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.”
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.”
Spring cleaning equals energy savings
Many of your once-a-year spring cleaning chores can save energy all year round. Some examples:
Five reasons to plant a tree in your yard
Hot summer days aren’t too far off. Why not start thinking about planting some shade trees in your yard to keep your family cool?
Here are five benefits of shade trees around the house.
Plateau Electric Cooperative helps Zambia officials learn about cooperatives
ONIEDA – A group of utility officials from the African nation of Zambia visited Plateau Electric Cooperative in Onieda on Wednesday to learn more about electric cooperatives.
Representatives of the Zambian Electric Cooperative Development Program visited PEC to gather vital information as part of their five-year initiative to support increased electric utility access in rural Zambia. The visit was coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s International Program.
“The Cooperatives formed by the ZECDP will contribute to the country’s goal of increasing the current 4% rural electrification rate to 51% by 2030,” says Rajeena Shakya, Business Development Specialist for NRECA International. The Zambian study tour hopes to increase awareness of the electric co-op development process and key technical assistance needed to support emerging co-ops.
“Our CEO Dave Cross led the group during their time here, showing them our facilities, discussing operations, statistics, and logistics,” said Rachel Human, communications director for Plateau Electric Cooperative. “It was important to us to show them how electric co-ops are managed and governed.”
The Zambian delegates were given an overview by Cross and PEC board president Tim Freels on the history of the cooperative, billing information, the board election process, as well as the cooperative’s service area and organizational structure. The group wrapped up their visit by taking a tour of the cooperative’s Scott County facility.
The Zambia Electric Cooperative Development Program will receive funding from multiple national and international sources, but the first step in the process was to view a successful electric co-op in action and gather information. “We wanted to demonstrate the community-based electric co-op model and how local community is not only a priority, but supported by investing which generates income for growth,” Shakya said.
“This meeting was very beneficial to our group,” said Dr. Chimuka Francescah Chisangano, Permanent Secretary and Zambian Ministry of Energy official, at the conclusion of the visit. “I believe the success that PEC has had can be duplicated in Zambia. It’s all about bringing equal access to electricity to our people.”
“We’re really pleased that we got to host you all today,” said Dave Cross, CEO of Plateau Electric Cooperative, at the conclusion of the visit. “All of us here at PEC are honored to have been chosen to work with this outstanding group.”
Tennessee hosts electric co-op leaders from around the nation
Tennessee’s electric cooperatives are pleased to host more than 9,000 electric co-op leaders from across the nation for NRECA’s PowerXchange event.
“It’s Time to Lead” is the theme of this year’s event, the largest annual gathering of rural and suburban energy leaders in the country.
“As we prepared for this meeting, the excitement kept building because there’s so much to say in a moment like this,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson during his opening remarks. “But, one thing was obvious, and it became the theme for this meeting: It’s Time to Lead.”
“Electric co-ops have the knowledge and the tools to do more for our members than at any point in time since we turned the lights on,” he continued. “We have the trust of our members and the support to make crucial new investments in our communities. It’s a big job – a job for leaders. Who better to take on that responsibility than us?”
Tennessee’s electric co-ops are pleased to welcome co-op leaders to the Volunteer State. “These are vital conversations that are taking place at a time of rapid transition, and we are honored to have them taking place here in Tennessee,” says Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “We’re glad that so many of our Tennessee co-op leaders can participate in these discussions. From policy issues to emerging technology, there is massive value for our co-op leaders and the communities they represent to engage in and learn from the information being shared this week.”
NRECA’s PowerXchange meeting runs through Wednesday, March 8 in downtown Nashville.