Co-ops connect

Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative is one of 12 entities chosen by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to receive grants for two EV fast charging stations. The stations will be located near Interstate 24 in Kimball.

The 12 chosen projects will receive $5.2 million in total grant funding to install direct current fast charging (DCFC) infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) along prioritized interstate or major highway corridors across the state.

The 12 projects will involve the installation of 32 total charging units at 13 sites. The program is part of a partnership between TDEC and TVA to develop a statewide EV fast-charging network along Tennessee’s interstates and major highways to power the growth of EVs across the state.

Selected grantees include:

City of Athens	Memphis Light, Gas and Water
BrightRidge (Johnson City)	Paris Utility Authority
Brownsville Energy Authority	Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative
Columbia Power and Water Systems	Smithville Electric System
City of Dayton	City of Springfield
EPB of Chattanooga	Tullahoma Utilities Authority

In addition to the projects listed above, TVA anticipates funding 21 projects in Tennessee, which will include the installation of 56 total charging units at 27 sites. This investment is part of TVA’s broader Fast Charge Network that aims to reduce barriers to EV adoption by deploying fast chargers at least every 50 miles along the interstates and major highways across its 7-state service territory by 2026.

The competitive grant program comprises the state’s fourth solicitation for projects under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT). The purpose of the EMT is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Of the funded charging infrastructure, 10 chargers at three sites will be installed in former nonattainment areas for ozone and/or fine particulates (PM2.5) under National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

“We are glad we can put these funds to use in ways that serve all motorists with electric vehicles,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “We are rapidly moving toward more electric vehicles on our roads, and this is a way to stay ahead of that demand.” 

“Electrification of transportation is critical to help our nation achieve its energy security and decarbonization goals,” said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and chief executive officer. “Today, thanks to Governor Lee and TDEC, our region is the nation’s epicenter for EV technology and manufacturing, and this grant demonstrates how we can move the Tennessee Valley further and faster, together, to make a cleaner future a reality.” 

The program will complement the state’s use of its allocated funds under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The NEVI Formula Program aims to build out fast charging infrastructure along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, which in Tennessee includes all of the two-digit interstate highways and the majority of U.S.-64.

TDEC is the lead agency for administering the state’s VW Settlement EMT allocation. Announcements on future funding programs under the EMT will be shared by the department.

Visit the TDEC website for additional information on the VW Settlement.

6 students from high schools in SVEC’s service area spent a week in the nation’s capital as delegates of the 2023 Washington Youth Tour. Sarah Reel from Bledsoe County High School, Livia Benefield from Grundy County High School, Dakota Blevins from Marion County High School, Samuel Herron from Sequatchie County High School, Kenyan King from South Pittsburg High School, and Rylie Smith from Whitwell High School joined other students from across Tennessee on the weeklong trip that began on Friday, June 16.

SVEC Washington Youth Tour Delegates in front of Monticello on June 19th, 2023.
From left to right: Sam Herron (SCHS), Dakota Blevins (MCHS), Kenyan King (SPHS), Sarah Reel (BCHS), Rylie Smith (WHS), Livia Benefield (GCHS).

This annual event is sponsored by Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. The students were selected for the trip by writing a short story titled “Co-ops Connect” that explains how co-ops connect Tennessee communities with energy, education, broadband, economic development and more.

Mike Partin, SVEC President/ CEO, said that youth tour delegates are the future leaders of the region. “Through the Youth Tour, these young people are given an extraordinary chance to explore history and public policy in a direct way, cultivate their leadership skills and acquire knowledge that will be valuable for their communities down the road.”

“The Washington Youth Tour is more than just a trip,” said Todd Blocker, vice president of member relations for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and tour director. “It’s a transformative experience that ignites a love of history, inspires leadership and empowers young minds to shape the future. By witnessing awe-inspiring monuments, engaging with our nation’s leaders and connecting with a community of peers, youth tour can cultivate a lifelong passion for active citizenship.”

While in Washington, D.C., Tennessee’s Youth Tour delegates saw the White House and memorials to past presidents Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as well as monuments honoring the sacrifices of veterans of World War II and the Vietnam and Korean Wars. During visits to the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, the touring Tennesseans saw and experienced natural, historical, and artistic treasures. Other fun stops included historic homes of former presidents — George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s Monticello — as well as the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the Washington National Cathedral, and a boat cruise down the Potomac River. The group also paid a solemn and sobering visit to Arlington National Cemetery where the delegates laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Delegates were welcomed to the U.S. Capitol by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, as well as other members of the Tennessee congressional delegation. The students had the opportunity to take photos with them and ask them questions.

“Investing in these young people not only nurtures their potential but is an investment in the future of rural and suburban Tennessee,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “It is exciting to consider the impact that these talented young people will have on their communities, and electric cooperatives are honored to support their academic journeys.”

The Washington Youth Tour was inspired by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1957 when he encouraged electric cooperatives to send young people to the nation’s capital. Since then, more than 6,000 young Tennesseans have participated in the Washington Youth Tour as delegates.

Co-ops connect people and opportunity: Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative is working to create new opportunities for the people and places we serve. From creating jobs through economic development to inspiring students through our educational programs, electric co-ops connect individuals with opportunities they might not otherwise have.

Co-ops connect small towns and global knowledge: Thanks to our investments in broadband, SVEC is connecting the communities we serve with the world. Co-ops bring the latest advancements in technology to the heart of our communities, ensuring that the benefits of progress are accessible to all.

Co-ops connect today and tomorrow: The world is changing rapidly, and SVEC is  investing today to prepare for a brighter tomorrow. We’re building a robust and resilient electric grid to ensure that our communities are prepared for whatever lies ahead.

This Co-op Month, let’s remember that the very essence of our electric cooperative is to connect — energy and community, people and opportunity, small towns and global knowledge, today and tomorrow. Together, we are not just a utility; we are a vital link in the chain that makes our community thrive. Let’s celebrate the power of connection and the cooperative spirit that keeps our lights shining brightly.

SVEC President/ CEO, Mike Partin