Latest news with #TennesseeValleyAuthority
The Hill
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Google strikes agreements with 2 grid operators to restructure data center demand
Google announced Monday that it has struck agreements with two regional grid operators to reduce its data center demand at times when the grid is under more strain. The tech giant unveiled agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority to shift certain workloads to limit the stress on the grid in a process known as demand response. 'As AI growth accelerates, we recognize the need to expand our demand response toolkit and develop capabilities specifically for machine learning workloads,' Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said in a statement. 'We want to be thoughtful about how we can continue to be a good grid citizen and see this as a vital tool for enabling responsible data center growth,' she added. Google first launched efforts to use demand response in 2023. However, it said Monday that its latest agreements represent 'the first time we're delivering data center demand response by targeting machine learning (ML) workloads.' Machine learning is a subset of AI. Energy has increasingly become one of the most important factors in the race to develop AI. The technology requires vast amounts of energy to both train and interface with users. An Energy Department report released last month warned that blackout risks could increase 100 times by the end of the decade due to growing strain on the grid from AI development and efforts to reshore manufacturing. These concerns about growing energy demand were reflected in President Trump's AI Action Plan last month, in which he called fast-tracking both data center and energy construction.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Federal utility backs off Tennessee gas plant site after John Rich says he enlisted Trump's help
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The nation's largest public utility says it is looking at other sites for a new natural gas power plant after its preferred location in Tennessee drew heavy public scrutiny, including from country musician John Rich. The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Tuesday that the Cheatham County site is no longer its preferred one. Rich, a conservative supporter of President Donald Trump who has Cheatham County roots, has been a key opponent of TVA's 900-megawatt plant in the county. He said he enlisted Trump to 'team up' on the issue. A TVA spokesperson declined to comment about Rich's comments, including whether Trump was involved. A White House spokesperson also declined to comment. The community has raised concerns about the potential impact on water quality, air quality, noise pollution, safety, property rights and more, in a rural area that also has homes and schools nearby. Clean energy and environmental groups have also led resistance to the proposal. Rich said Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins 'joined forces with me and all the residents of Cheatham County.' 'They pulled out under threat,' Rich said in a social media post Tuesday. 'They pulled out because they're afraid President Trump is going to fire every member of that board.' Based on feedback, the federal utility says it is considering a site at a nearby industrial park and other Middle Tennessee locations. Additionally, it floated options such as working with the Trump administration to extend the use of some fossil fuel plants. The utility has been planning to retire the last of its coal-fired plants by 2035. But Trump has signed executive orders aimed at boosting the coal industry. Power from the proposed Cheatham plant was intended to replace some of the electricity from the second unit of the coal-fired Cumberland Fossil Plant, which had been planned for retirement in 2028 but is now among the coal units being evaluated for potentially longer life. The site that sparked opposition includes the power plant and a battery storage system on 286 acres in Cheatham County, in addition to a 12-mile natural gas pipeline and up to 45 miles of transmission lines to the project. Rich last week posted a map showing many areas of farmland around the preferred area, saying it 'CANNOT happen.' Rollins, the agriculture secretary, replied, 'ON IT' and 'Standby.' Rich additionally has called for a 'complete revamping' of TVA, saying, 'Cheatham County ain't the only place they're doing this.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Any final decision on the plant would need to await more TVA board members. Trump recently announced four nominees for the board, which for months has not had enough members to take many actions because Trump fired some of former President Joe Biden's picks. TVA provides power to more than 10 million people across seven southern states. The board normally has nine members and requires five to make a quorum. It currently has three. Trump's picks would not be seated until the U.S. Senate confirms them. Clean energy advocates applauded TVA's decision to back off the Cheatham County location, but said it should instead invest more in clean energy options and heed the concern of communities where similar gas plants are proposed in Cumberland City, Kingston and Memphis. 'Instead of simply shifting those harmful impacts to another area, TVA should scrap its plans for a new gas plant altogether and invest in clean and cost-effective power options, like solar power and battery storage,' said Trey Bussey, a staff attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Atlantic
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Atlantic
Trump's Ultimatum for America's Largest Public-Energy Provider
For weeks now, the country-music star John Rich has waged a very public battle against a proposed gas-fired power plant near his home in Nashville. The Tennessee Valley Authority, the largest public energy provider in the United States, says the new plant will keep blackouts at bay and prices low; Rich, along with environmental groups who have vocally opposed the project, is worried about 'water contamination, destroyed farms, noise and air pollution.' Recently, the singer's crusade caught President Donald Trump's attention: On Saturday, in a post on X, Rich said that the commander in chief had called him with what he described as 'a MASSIVE announcement coming soon concerning this Anti-American, debacle of a project.' And today, the TVA shared the news: It was backing away from the proposed site. But before that, on Monday morning, the White House delivered an ultimatum on a call with the TVA's board of directors, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told me. The command was stark: Fire the utility's CEO, Don Moul, or prepare to be fired. The board balked. Instead of following the order, which has not been reported on, the board argued in a letter to the White House on Monday that it had no cause to fire Moul: His 97-day tenure had followed 'President Trump's vision of unleashing American energy and achieving American energy dominance.' In fact, the board had selected Moul—a veteran executive who has led nuclear-energy programs at many of the nation's biggest utility companies—'to ensure that TVA embarks on an aggressive policy of energy dominance that involves all fuel types,' according to a copy of the letter I obtained. (When I reached out for comment, the TVA directed me to the White House. The White House did not respond to questions.) The order to fire Moul was not explicitly linked to the proposed plant near Nashville. But the board believes that the project prompted this latest upheaval, the two sources said. The letter to the White House hammers home the point that building new power plants is what Trump has said he wants. At the same time, the two sources told me, they suspect that the Nashville music star's protest is an excuse for the president to pursue another goal: setting the stage for selling off the nation's largest government-owned utility by installing a handpicked CEO more closely allied to him. Trump hasn't spoken recently about privatizing the TVA. But in his first term, he proposed selling off the TVA's power lines to a private buyer in 2018 and again in 2020. Now, he is positioned to stack the TVA's board with new members. That, combined with his administration's relentless push to shrink the federal government, has revived speculation about privatization—which many in Trump's MAGA orbit have long argued should be the utility's fate. Established under Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to bring electricity to parts of the South too poor to attract investor-owned utilities, the TVA has for decades been one of the largest corporations whose shares are all owned by the federal government; it serves 10 million Americans. Its board is appointed by the White House, but the TVA otherwise functions like a normal monopoly power company. Ratepayers fund its operations; it hasn't relied on direct federal appropriations for its power-generation system since 1959. Periodically, presidents from both parties have proposed privatizing its operations. Barack Obama floated the idea in 2013. Selling off the clunky old TVA for parts might have sounded good in theory. But when experts have done the math, breaking up a behemoth that produces power, maintains transmission lines, supplies electricity to rural cooperatives, and manages a complex system of rivers and dams would result in worse outcomes. In 2021, the investment bank Lazard released a study of the TVA finances on behalf of the federal government and found that the utility had 'met or outperformed' its key financial and operating goals since 2014. Joel Yudken, an economist at the consultancy High Road Strategies, told me that the conclusion of his own analysis was, essentially, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Since taking office again this January, Trump has been setting up the pieces to control the TVA's future. The White House needs the board to appoint a new CEO, but Trump can appoint—and remove—its members. The current board of directors has just three members—short of the five-person quorum it needs to make major decisions, and well short of its full nine-member panel. At the beginning of Trump's new term, the board had three vacancies; the Senate had failed to confirm new appointees before President Joe Biden's term ended. Then, starting in March, Trump fired three of Biden's other appointees. That left six open seats. Last month, Trump sent four of his nominees to the Senate for approval, including a controversial former car-dealership magnate from Nashville who appears to have no experience in utilities but who in 2020 called Trump the real winner of the presidential election. The Senate has yet to vote on the picks. If Trump uses Congress's August recess to make emergency appointments to the committee, the White House could legally bypass the Senate confirmation process for nearly two years. Even if he retains the three sitting board members, he could unilaterally seat a majority of the TVA's board without Senate approval. If he fires the existing members, the board could consist of only his handpicked members, giving him that much more leverage to select a CEO. One top candidate, the sources suggested, would be Trump's former energy secretary, Dan Brouillette, who until last fall headed a trade association for investor-owned utilities. Brouillette did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Privatization would still be a political battle. A U.S. president, board, and CEO all in favor of privatization would still likely need Congress's cooperation to sell off the TVA, and neither of Tenneessee's senators, Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, have publicly endorsed privatizing the TVA. Instead, in an op-ed published in late March, the pair urged Trump to 'rescue TVA from itself' and cement his legacy as 'America's Nuclear President' by embarking on a major reactor build-out. (Spokespeople for both senators did not reply to questions about whether they would support privatization or Brouillette's candidacy.) But the utility's top management could press Congress to support privatization legislation, and it could silo parts of the business to set the stage for a sale. The two sources close to the TVA fear that the latest disruption is not about going after a single plant but going after the TVA itself, in part because the proposed gas plant otherwise fits neatly into Trump's vision for energy expansion. (The TVA has been criticized by environmental groups for its build out of gas-fired plants.) In the past six months, his administration has pushed to build new gas pipelines, relaxed enforcement of safety regulations, and directed more funding toward expanding fossil-fuel production. Trump has also pushed for new nuclear reactors—which Moul has pursued at the TVA—and in the past fought against NIMBY opponents of fossil-fuel infrastructure. The TVA has been expanding its generation capacity, in part with an eye to increased electricity demands; Elon Musk's xAI has data centers in Tennessee, for instance. The TVA's monopoly has long guaranteed that locals and their businesses pay some of the lowest electricity rates in the nation—one reason the utility has been the region's pride for almost a century now. In other parts of the U.S., electricity prices have been on the rise; privatizing the utility would almost certainly mean the Tennessee Valley would pay more for electricity, too. Privatization would also risk the very legacy that some Republicans envision for Trump. Given the high cost of building new nuclear reactors, state-owned utilities are—all over the world—the primary vehicles for working out the kinks in novel models. That's how China, Russia, France, and the United Arab Emirates all managed to construct atomic superstations. This strategy is catching on again in the United States too: New York just tapped its New York Power Authority, the largest state utility after the TVA, to build its first nuclear-power plant since the 1980s. In Canada, the government-owned Ontario Power Generation is moving forward with what could be the first commercial small modular reactors in North America. The TVA is currently on track to follow up on the Ontario utility's work by building its own small reactor. With Wall Street investors constantly demanding short-term quarterly returns, few other utilities can take on that kind of megaproject. But if the TVA goes private, the U.S. will have even fewer other power options. Only a government can really pursue a project the scale of the TVA; if the utility is sold off, the scale of its potential will shrink too.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Real Estate Agent Billy Houston of Billy Houston Group Shares Insights as TVA Lake Levels Expert in HelloNation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- How do seasonal water fluctuations affect lakefront property in East Tennessee? In a comprehensive feature for HelloNation, Billy Houston of the Billy Houston Group in Knoxville explains the importance of understanding year-round water levels when evaluating lakeside real estate. Many lakes in the region, including Norris, Fort Loudoun, Cherokee, and Watts Bar, are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which adjusts water levels to meet operational needs such as hydroelectric power, flood control, and recreation. Houston highlights that these adjustments, particularly the winter drawdowns on lakes like Norris, can expose shorelines, reduce dock access, and alter the visual appeal of the waterfront. Even more stable bodies of water like Fort Loudoun experience fluctuations that can impact shallow coves or landscaping decisions. For buyers, this means dock usability, shoreline maintenance, and property aesthetics vary significantly across seasons. Reviewing TVA lake levels and topographic maps is essential for identifying whether a property's water access remains functional throughout the year or only during warmer months. As detailed in Understanding Year-Round Water Levels in Knoxville-Area Lakes, Houston stresses the value of working with a real estate professional who understands shoreline management in East Tennessee. An experienced agent can help interpret TVA regulations, assess elevation data, and match properties to a buyer's seasonal priorities and usage expectations. About HelloNationHelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative 'edvertising' approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. Patrick McCabeinfo@ photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
02-07-2025
- Business
Trump nominates 4 to Tennessee Valley Authority board after firing Biden picks
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced four nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority's board, which for months has not had enough members to take many actions because Trump fired some of former President Joe Biden's picks. TVA is the nation's largest public utility and provides power to more than 10 million people across seven southern states. The White House said Trump's nominees for the federal utility are Tennesseans Lee Beaman, Mitch Graves and Jeff Hagood; and Randall Jones of Alabama. The selections follow Trump's firing of three Biden-nominated board members since late March. The board normally has nine members and requires five to make a quorum. It currently has three. Trump's picks would not be seated until the U.S. Senate confirms them. Without a quorum, TVA's board can take actions needed for ongoing operations but cannot jump into new areas of activity, start new programs or change the utility's existing direction. Beaman is a businessman who sold his Nashville-area fleet of car dealerships. He is also a prominent Republican political fundraiser. Graves is the CEO of West Cancer Center & Research Institute in Germantown, Tennessee, and he sits on the board of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. Hagood is a Knoxville attorney and sits on the Knoxville Sports Authority Board. He was helping fundraising efforts for Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, the former WWE wrestler who had been flirting with a run for governor. Jones is an insurance agent and sits on the Jacksonville State University board, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame board and the city of Guntersville Electric Board. In a March 20 guest column, Tennessee's two Republican U.S. senators urged TVA officials to opt for 'an interim CEO trusted by the president' before hiring someone long-term. They wrote that studies and hurdles under the TVA board were bogging down a project that seeks to build a small modular nuclear reactor. Then, Trump fired board member Michelle Moore on March 27. On March 31, the five remaining board members picked TVA's executive vice president and chief operating officer Don Moul to become the new CEO. Moul has since called for reevaluating the lifespan of TVA's fleet of coal plants. The utility has been planning to retire the last of them by 2035. But Trump has signed executive orders aimed at boosting the coal industry. On April 1, Trump fired board member Joe Ritch, leaving the board without a quorum. Months later, he fired Beth Geer from the board on June 10. This weekend, a guest column by Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee called for a 'a new board and a clear, aggressive mission' to further Trump's goal of quadrupling domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years. Trump signed executive orders in May to speed up the development. Blackburn and Hagerty called for the new nominees' quick confirmation in the Senate.
