Looking forward was the order of business when the TVPPA Board of Directors met for their final meeting of 2020 on Monday, December 7. Wes Kelley, President & CEO of Huntsville Utilities led his first meeting as board chair since his appointment in August. Kelley focused on the collegiality of TVPPA members; the unique roles of various organizations that support LPCs in the Valley; and board priorities for 2021 including a review of staff plans for serving the diverse needs of TVPPA’s 153 municipal and cooperative-owned local power companies.

The Board took action on several important items including approval of the 2021 budget. Finance Committee Chairman Larry Kernea of Murphy, N.C., EPB said “I am proud to present this conservative and thoughtfully-developed budget; our committee hopes to be able to recommend expansion of it by mid-2021.”

The nomination of EPB Chattanooga’s Sandy Tilley to replace Jeremy Nelms on TVPPA’s Solar Advisory Group was ratified and the Board named two new chairs to roles opened up by Wes Kelley’s appointment as Board Chairman. Mark Iverson, Bowling Green, Ky. MU assumed the chairmanship of the Contract Compliance Advisory Group replacing Kelley; and Tom Suggs of Middle Tennessee Electric was named chair of the Research and Development Committee, which had previously been led by Iverson. All other chairs were reconfirmed to their roles for 2021.

Other meeting highlights included a report from Betsey Kirk McCall, EVP of Market Strategies & Corporate Relations on TVPPA’s Flexibility Research Project. Launched in 2018 in conjunction with TVA, the project has reviewed nine proposals representing 26.3 MW of electricity. Of the projects submitted by seven LPCs, two solar projects continue: Knoxville UB’s community solar program and Volunteer EC’s solar project in partnership with a retirement community. The FRP team is accepting additional project submissions through January 9, 2021, at which time the two-year research project will close and TVPPA and TVA will share findings.

Danette Scudder, TVPPA EVP of Member Services & Strategic Relations, presented the Government Relations Advisory Group’s proposed 2021 Government Relations Plan to the Board The approved plan includes:

  • advocating for the reconstitution of the congressional TVA Caucus;
  • hosting the 2021 Valley Rally either in-person or virtually;
  • developing relationships that leverage shared values around economic and environmental justice;
  • monitoring the formation of the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM); and
  • ensuring the TVA Board reflects LPC values, among other key considerations.

TVPPA’s Board of Directors is scheduled to meet again on March 15, 2020.