University of Tennessee, Seven States Power, KUB Partner to Gain Valuable EV Insights
April 12, 2021

 

Four years ago, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) launched a new initiative to help future corporate leaders bridge the divide between business and technical teams. The Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program brings together students from the university’s Haslam College of Business and its Tickle College of Engineering to teach them how two very different sides of an organization can work together. In 2020, Seven States Power Corp. partnered with Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) and students from the program to explore electric vehicle (EV) charger infrastructure on the UTK campus and ultimately, provide information that could aid in the formulation of a master plan for campus-wide EV charging.

What began as a casual conversation between Mary Pile, director of the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program, and Betsey Kirk McCall, president and CEO of Seven States Power, to find a project that Seven States could support will soon culminate with the installation of a new ChargePoint EV charger on the UT campus near the new Tickle College of Engineering.

“This was a student-led project. We teach our students how to look at the big picture to see how business and technical teams can work together to solve problems. We teach systems-thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving skills. For this project, our students set a goal of determining the need for additional EV chargers on campus and ultimately working with Seven States Power and KUB to bring a new charger to campus,” explained Pile.

Students began by accessing data collected by Chien-fei Chen, Director of Education and Diversity and Research Associate Professor for CURENT, who had surveyed more than 500 faculty, staff and students about their use of and interest in EVs and EV chargers. From there, the students worked with various campus departments, KUB staff, and the Seven States team to evaluate grid requirements, determine who the primary audience for campus chargers might be, and identify potential locations. Potential locations were then prioritized based on which campus programs had the most students, staff and faculty driving EVs as well as ease-of-access for tapping into existing electrical infrastructure, and finally, visibility of the chargers themselves. Visibility of the chargers became a key factor primarily to make sure drivers could easily locate a charger when needed, but also, as a means of helping the university highlight its commitment to sustainability.

While a few EV chargers already exist on campus, none offer the data-collection or revenue-generation capabilities of the ChargePoint dual-port charger provided by Seven States Power. Students, and others involved with this project, feel hopeful that once the new charger, which will be located in the Tickle College of Engineering parking lot in an easily accessible spot with high visibility along Neyland Drive goes live, they can begin collecting the necessary data to help the university develop a master plan for further charger installations.

“Our students have really enjoyed working on a project with such tangible results,” said Pile. “Working with Seven States allowed us to go beyond a theoretical concept to solve a problem with the potential for long-term benefits to our campus. Seven States has been extremely supportive and everyone on the team, along with the staff of KUB, have been great about providing any information we needed. They were great to work with…always available to answer questions. I would definitely recommend working with Seven States on this type of project to anyone who has the opportunity.”

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Fast Charge TN Site to Open in Collierville

By Jessica Bradshaw • June 29, 2026
June 29, 2026 The latest expansion of the Fast Charge TN network will open on Monday, June 29, in the parking lot of 175 Washington Street, across from Lost Pizza Company. The location of the Collierville site is ideal because of its proximity to the I-269 corridor and access to food and retail. The site has three Level-3 charging stations that can fully charge an electric vehicle in about 15-20 minutes.  With this site, there are now seven Fast Charge locations in Shelby County. Memphis Light, Gas and Water received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to open fast charging stations. The Collierville site is also a partnership with Seven States Power Company and the Town of Collierville.

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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