Seven States Meets at ‘Best National Lab’
October 4, 2019

In addressing the 2019 Seven States Power Corp. Annual Meeting, conducted at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Randy Boyd laid his cards squarely on the table. “I like to think that ORNL is the best national lab in this country,” said the University of Tennessee’s interim president, who delivered the keynote presentation at the Oct. 3 meeting.

Boyd’s assertion got an enthusiastic second from Seven States Executive Vice President Betsey Kirk McCall. The Annual Meeting, she said, sought to spotlight revenue, research and partnerships – the foundations on which “Seven States is building a business model that will sustain it long into the future.”

“Last year, we talked about electric vehicles and revenue at the Nissan manufacturing plant at Smyrna,” she said. “Having this year’s meeting at ORNL, including tours open to our members, allowed us to showcase the benefits of collaboration and research through partnerships. “Oak Ridge may have started out as a ‘Secret City,’ but ORNL is now truly everyone’s lab – in fact, a few of our members are doing project research [there],” said McCall, who announced that Seven States’ 2020 Annual Meeting will be at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.

A man is giving a speech in front of a podium that says seven states
Tom King, of ORNL, presents at the Seven States Annual Meeting

Attendees got a brief overview of ORNL from Tom King, who oversees the sustainable electricity program for the lab and UT-Battelle, the contractor that operates ORNL for the U.S. Department of Energy. The post-meeting tours offered by ORNL were well attended and, according to Guntersville, Ala., EB General Manager Jason Kirkland, more than worth the additional time. “Two words – innovative and unbelievable,” Kirkland said. “The technology they’re using here; it just left me almost speechless.”

In closing the meeting, BrightRidge CEO Jeff Dykes acknowledged that he and his counterparts are serving their constituents in uncertain times, but reminded them that they control their destinies. “It’s exciting, but scary these days,” he said. “We’ve got to change – a lot. But where we go as local power companies is really up to us. You’re doing great things, and we’re going to work closely with Seven States to change the way we do things here in the Valley.”

A group of people standing in front of a seven states sign
Lee Brown (Erwin Utilities, second from left) won a ChargePoint EV charger.

During the business meeting, Seven States Chairman Rody Blevins of Volunteer EC, Decatur, Tenn., was re-elected to the board. Blevins is scheduled to stand down as chairman in December, but remain on the board.

Seven States members also elected four new directors: Steve Hargrove of Sheffield, Ala., Utilities (Division 9); Jeremy Nelms of Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Young Harris, Ga. (Southeastern District); Mike Partin of Sequachee Valley EC, South Pittsburg, Tenn. (Division 7) and Allen Robbins of Sevier Co., Tenn., ES (Appalachian District).

A man and two women are standing next to each other holding a trophy.
Betsey Kirk McCall and Clint Wilson present Jeff Cornett of ORNL with the Innovations Champion award

 

McCall concluded the meeting by presenting the 2019 Seven States Innovation Champion award to Jeff Cornett, ORNL’s manager of industrial partnerships and economic development. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t say a big ‘thank you’ to Jeff and everyone at ORNL for their amazing hospitality,” she said. “And it goes without saying that none of this could have happened without the attention to detail and time dedicated by the Seven States team.”

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Energy Express: Advancing Tennessee's Electric Future

By Jessica Bradshaw • July 1, 2026
The second quarter of 2026 has been a productive period for the Seven States team, with much of the spring and early summer dedicated to engaging utility leaders, elected officials, community stakeholders, and the public to share the vision, progress, and benefits of the Energy Express Project. Members of the Seven States team had the privilege of speaking with leaders from BrightRidge, Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), and the Nashville Electric Service (NES). These publicly held meetings served as important forums to answer questions, share project milestones, and demonstrate how the Energy Express Project will modernize and strengthen the Valley’s electric infrastructure for decades to come. Led by Seven States, the project will deliver 220MW of battery storage capacity across multiple site locations in partnership with BrightRidge (20MW), MLGW (100MW), and NES (100MW). The project is backed by Seven States’ award of a landmark $439 million zero-interest loan and grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS). A primary objective of the project will be creating a stronger, more flexible electric grid capable of meeting increasing energy demands related to the state's industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. The battery assets will charge during off peak hours and discharge during peak hours to help peak shave, reducing costs and grid strain while providing utilities with greater operational flexibility. Originally envisioned as a utility scale solar project, the initiative will now deploy battery storage as a standalone resource on the distribution system and the assets will be owned and operated by Seven States. The project's outreach efforts have been featured by local media outlets (highlighted below), and a dedicated website has been launched to provide project updates while offering the public an opportunity to submit comments and questions. As we continue advancing the project, we remain grateful for the opportunity to engage with partners across Tennessee and share our progress with the Seven States audience. We look forward to continuing these conversations with utilities, local governments, community organizations, and rate payers as the Energy Express Project moves forward. Together, we are building and energizing the grid of the future. POWERING UP: Chattanooga-based Seven States to build grid batteries with $439M in federal funds BrightRidge, Seven State Power Corporation partnership to bring battery storage to the Tennessee Valley MLGW and Seven States Power form partnership for battery storage MLGW, Seven States make deal to deploy battery storage Energy Express Project to Bring Battery Storage to Greater Nashville Nashville's power grid is about to get a boost. Here's how.

Seven States Power Corporation Announces Large-Scale Battery Storage in Partnership with NES

By Jessica Bradshaw • June 25, 2026
June 25, 2026 Seven States Power Corporation, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., is pleased to announce that it will deliver a significant infrastructure investment to modernize the electric grid in partnership with Nashville Electric Service (NES), a municipal public utility based in Nashville, TN. The initiative, named the Energy Express Project, will deploy battery storage as a standalone resource designed to support peak demand, improve grid resiliency, and provide NES with greater operational flexibility. The project is backed by Seven States’ award of a landmark $439 million zero-interest loan and grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS). This announcement follows similar recent announcements related to additional project locations across the state in partnership with Memphis Light, Gas and Water in Memphis, TN and BrightRidge in Johnson City, TN. The approach reflects a strategic decision to prioritize dispatchable energy assets that can respond immediately to system needs. By focusing solely on battery storage, Seven States and its partners aim to enhance reliability, allowing the utilities to better manage demand fluctuations and unexpected outages while maintaining some of the lowest electric rates in the country. “The Energy Express Project demonstrates how federal financing, local ownership, and collaborative partnerships can accelerate deployment of advanced grid technologies to help manage growing demand to meet the region’s energy needs,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “Battery storage provides an innovative tool that aligns with national priorities around energy dominance, affordability, and reliability.” Led by Seven States, the project will consist of 100 megawatts of battery storage capacity interconnected with NES’s electric distribution system. The batteries will be capable of storing energy from the existing grid and deploying it during periods of peak demand or system stress, helping stabilize the grid while reducing exposure to high-cost power purchases. “Our partnership with the team of experts at Seven States will allow us to deliver a battery solution that will modernize our grid, improve operations, and provide reliability for our customers,” said Teresa Broyles-Aplin, president and CEO of NES. “It gives us greater control during peak demand periods and supports our ongoing effort toward reliable energy distribution.” The battery installations will be constructed at several NES substations throughout Greater Nashville. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the project targeted for completion by December 2028. Once operational, the initiative is expected to support the electric needs of approximately 12,000 homes and businesses across the Greater Nashville area and create jobs during construction.  Seven States will utilize the award from USDA to build 220MW of battery storage with its electric utility partners in west, middle and east Tennessee. The initiative is among the first of its kind in the Tennessee Valley and represents a significant investment in grid reliability and local energy infrastructure. Seven States and NES view the project as a model for future battery-focused investments across the Southeast.

Seven States Power Corporation Announces Large-Scale Battery Storage in Partnership with MLGW

By Jessica Bradshaw • June 18, 2026
June 18, 2026 Seven States Power Corporation, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., announced in September a partnership with MLGW that would deliver a significant infrastructure investment to modernize the electric grid in partnership with Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) a municipal public utility based in Memphis, TN. Since that time, the project has expanded beyond its original scope. Originally envisioned as a combined solar-and-storage project, the initiative will now deploy battery storage as a standalone resource designed to support peak demand, improve grid resiliency, and provide MLGW with greater operational flexibility. The project remains backed by Seven States’ award of a landmark $439 million zero-interest loan and grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS). The revised approach reflects a strategic decision to prioritize dispatchable energy assets that can respond immediately to system needs. By focusing solely on battery storage, Seven States and MLGW aim to enhance reliability, allowing the utility to better manage demand fluctuations and unexpected outages while maintaining some of the lowest electric rates in the country. “We are thrilled to build new electric infrastructure to support growing demand and meet the region’s energy needs,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “Battery storage provides a powerful, flexible, and innovative tool that aligns with national priorities around energy dominance, affordability, and reliability.” Led by Seven States Power Corporation, the project will consist of 100 megawatts of battery storage capacity interconnected with MLGW’s electric distribution system. The batteries will be capable of storing energy from the existing grid and deploying it during periods of peak demand or system stress, helping stabilize the grid while reducing exposure to high-cost power purchases. “This scalable battery solution allows us to modernize our grid and improve reliability for our customers,” said Doug McGowen, president and CEO of MLGW. “It gives us greater control during peak demand periods to support power supply to our customers across Memphis and Shelby County.” The battery installations will be constructed at several MLGW substations throughout Memphis and Shelby County. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the project targeted for completion by December 2028. Once operational, the initiative is expected to support the electric needs of approximately 12,000 homes and businesses across Shelby County and create jobs during construction. Seven States will utilize the award from USDA to build 220MW of battery storage with its electric utility partners in west, middle and east Tennessee. The initiative is among the first of its kind in the Tennessee Valley, demonstrating how federal financing, local ownership, and collaborative partnerships can accelerate deployment of advanced grid technologies. Seven States and MLGW view the project as a model for future battery-focused investments across the Southeast. Additional Related Articles MLGW, Seven States make deal to deploy battery storage; xAI solar sublease scrapped Memphis leads TN in lead service line removal efforts MLGW proposes battery storage projects to strengthen electric grid
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