Photo Gallery: 2021 Seven States Annual Meeting at Rock City
November 10, 2021

Seven States Power Corporation held its 2021 annual meeting November 4-5 at Rock City in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, just miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The two-day event kicked off with a board meeting on the afternoon of Thursday, November 4, with the business meeting following on the morning of Friday, November 5.

Much of the discussion centered around the substantial growth Seven States has experienced since it launched as a self-reliant energy solutions company in February 2021. Featured guest speakers on Friday included Jeff Lyash, President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Wolfgang Maluche, Vice President of Engineering at Volkswagen.

Following the conclusion of the business meeting, Seven States, member-owner EPB, and EPB-customer Rock City celebrated the installation of a solar-powered arbor that will reduce energy consumption and enhance sustainability opportunities at Rock City.

Below you will find photos from the 2021 Seven States Annual Meeting. All photos were taken by Rich Smith and belong to Seven States Power Corporation.

Two banners for seven states power corporation are displayed in front of an american flag.
A podium with two posters on it that say `` together we can make a bright future ''.
A table with trophies and a sign that says see rock city
A trophy with a glass ball on top of it is sitting on a table.
A group of men are standing around a table talking to each other.
A row of flags with the names of the seven states on them
A sign that says seven states annual meeting is sitting in front of a rock wall.
A white and green electric car is charging in a parking lot.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
A group of men are standing in a room talking to each other.
Three men in suits are talking to each other in front of a fireplace.
A woman is sitting at a table using a laptop computer.
A group of men are standing in a room talking to each other.
A table with a sign that says seven states on it
Two men in suits are talking to each other in a room.
A woman in a green dress is talking to a man in a white sweater.
Three men in suits are standing next to each other and talking in a room.
A woman is talking to a group of people at a conference.
A woman is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A woman is standing at a podium giving a speech.
Two men are standing in front of a podium with a sign that says `` together we can make a bright future ''.
A man in a suit and green shirt is standing in front of a crowd of people.
A woman is standing in a crowd of people with her hand on her chest.
A man is standing at a podium holding a piece of paper.
A framed picture of a building under construction with people signing it.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a room.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech to a group of people.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
Two men are standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a green vest is smiling while sitting at a table.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is sitting in a chair in front of a group of people.
A group of men are sitting at tables in a room laughing.
A group of men are standing around a table talking to each other.
A group of men are standing around talking to each other.
A group of men in suits and ties are talking to each other at a conference.
Two men are shaking hands in front of a sign that says together we can make bright future.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a large room watching a presentation.
A group of people are sitting at a table clapping their hands.
Two men are standing at a podium giving a presentation to a group of people.
A woman is giving a presentation to a group of people at a conference.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man and a woman are shaking hands in front of a sign that says seven states.
A man is standing at a podium holding a robot arm.
A man and a woman are standing in front of a podium giving a presentation.
A man is standing at a podium giving a presentation to a group of people.
A man and two women are standing next to each other in front of an american flag.
A silver volkswagen id 4 is parked in front of a house.
The front end of a silver volkswagen id 4 is parked on a sidewalk.
A wooden pergola with solar panels on the roof.
A sign that says solar garden arbor is hanging from a metal pole.
A solar panel is hanging from the roof of a building.
Three men are shaking hands in front of a fence.
A group of men are standing on a sidewalk talking to each other.
A woman in a green dress is talking to two men in suits.
A close up of an electric car being charged at a charging station.
A woman is standing next to a tesla model 3 at a charging station.
Two men in suits are standing next to each other and talking.
A group of people are sitting in chairs in a parking lot.
A woman is standing at a podium speaking into a microphone.
A group of people are sitting in chairs in front of a building.
A woman is standing at a podium speaking into a microphone.
A man is standing at a podium talking into a microphone.
A man is giving a speech to a group of people sitting in chairs.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech to a group of people.
A group of men are standing next to each other clapping their hands.
A group of people standing in front of a building holding a sign.
A group of people are holding a banner that says solar garden arbor at rock city.
A group of people holding a banner that says solar garden arbor at rock city
A group of people standing next to each other in front of a podium.
A group of people are standing in front of a building with solar panels on the roof.
A group of people are standing in front of a wooden structure.
A group of people standing next to each other on top of a hill.
A group of people standing next to each other on top of a hill.
A group of people standing next to each other on top of a hill.

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Dickson Electric System and Seven States Power Corporation Celebrate New EV Charging Station

By Jessica Bradshaw • August 4, 2026
DICKSON, Tenn. — August 4, 2026 — Dickson Electric System, in partnership with Seven States Power Corporation (Seven States), on Tuesday celebrated the official opening of 2 new DC Fast Charge electric vehicle (EV) charging ports that will expand charging access for residents and travelers while supporting continued economic growth throughout the region. Community leaders, elected officials, utility representatives, and project partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the investment. The new DC Fast Charge EV charging ports mark another exciting step forward in advancing regional transportation infrastructure that will expand convenient charging options for residents and visitors throughout the community. “This project represents our commitment to providing reliable, forward-looking infrastructure that serves our customers both today and in the future,” said Darrell Gillespie, General Manager of Dickson Electric System. “As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow, investments like these help ensure our communities remain connected and ready for what’s next.” The charging ports are part of broader efforts to expand EV infrastructure throughout the Tennessee Valley, providing drivers with increased confidence and accessibility as electric transportation continues to grow. The project was made possible through funds supplied through the TN Fast Charge Network which is a statewide EV charging initiative developed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to place chargers every 50 miles along major highways. “Seven States is proud to partner with Dickson Electric to bring this project to life,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President & CEO of Seven States. “Together, we’re helping local utilities meet evolving energy needs while creating lasting value for the communities they serve.”  The charging stations will be available for use beginning August 4, 2026. They are located at 210 East College Street, Dickson, TN.

POWER COUPLING Chattanooga Cooperative Seeks Ownership of TVA Power Plants Again

By Jessica Bradshaw • August 2, 2026
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press | 2 August 2026 | BY DANIEL DASSOW Nearly 20 years ago, the Tennessee Valley Authority and its main customers -- local electric utilities -- formed a new power company with a specific and unprecedented goal. Seven States Power Corp. , a cooperative owned by the region's local utilities, like EPB in Chattanooga , would co-own power plants with TVA. The cooperative would put ownership of power plants in local hands rather than with the U.S. government, which owns TVA and its assets. Seven States would help the federal agency stay below its $30 billion legal debt limit. From 2008 to 2013, Chattanooga-based Seven States owned a 90% stake in TVA's Southaven gas plant in Mississippi. After TVA lowered its debt and bought Seven States out of the plant, the cooperative pivoted to being a development partner for local utilities as they installed solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and grid-level batteries. Now, Seven States leadership and members say the group is ready to return to its full founding mission of owning a stake in TVA power plants as the federal utility faces many of the same challenges from two decades ago. (READ MORE: Trump budget does not propose privatizing TVA as utility's debt rises) In a video interview, several managers of utilities in the region said Seven States had an opportunity to help TVA stay under its debt limit and meet higher power demand while keeping assets in local hands. "That original intent has never gone away," said Jeff Dykes, CEO of Johnson City-based utility BrightRidge and chair of the Seven States board. "Even though not a lot of action has happened over the years, it's always come back to that hope and desire and intent. We want TVA to be successful at the end of the day. We need TVA to be successful." Seven States is a generation and transmission cooperative , a model in which utilities band together to form a group that can own power plants. While the model is common in other parts of the U.S., TVA's central authority over its seven-state domain is its own model. "TVA is unique in that it owns the generation, it owns the transmission, it's self-regulating and it regulates its own customers," Wes Kelley, CEO at Huntsville Utilities, said in a video interview. "There's nothing else in the country that fits that paradigm." TVA customers have benefited from the model for more than 90 years, Kelley said, though there is room to integrate best practices from other parts of the country. TVA's debt is expected to rise from $23.8 billion at the beginning of 2026 to $27.3 billion by the end of 2027, according to a recent White House budget. The utility has found ways to offload some of the debt, including by entering lease-purchase agreements. The deals allow TVA to receive payment from a third party in exchange for a master lease on a power plant. TVA continues to own the plant while making payments back to the third party, similar to a mortgage. TVA entered a $2 billion lease agreement in May for its Cumberland gas plant in Middle Tennessee, scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The value of the deals is even greater if Seven States is the third party, said Doug McGowen, CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water, TVA's largest customer. Because Seven States is owned by the end customers of the product, its interest in maintaining low power costs is the same as residents of the region. "If Seven States was to take ownership of some of the assets through alternative financing, now you have the customers of TVA who are de facto owners of the assets that are generating the electricity that they are ultimately buying," McGowen said. "For us, that means there is a built-in hedge of protection or inherent checks and balances." Seven States is prepared to finance deals on the magnitude of the Cumberland deal, said Betsey Kirk McCall, CEO of the cooperative. The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Seven States $439 million in loans and grants last year, which the cooperative is using to build battery systems for its members. The award made Seven States eligible for greater financing, potentially up to the billions of dollars needed to take stake in a major gas plant, McCall said. Funding agencies include the USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy, she said. "None of them have shied away from numbers and volume of plants that we've put in front of the organizations we've been interacting with," McCall said. Seven States is a "force multiplier" for TVA that acts as an extension of its local power customers for the purpose of increasing power supply, McCall said in a later email. She told the TVA board of directors in May that Seven States had completed 222 projects with 80 utilities and received $475 million in state and federal funds since its founding. At its founding in 2007, the cooperative was designed to issue bonds backed by long-term contracts to purchase power. TVA was building gas plants at the time to meet power demand. The TVA board of directors, the members of which are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, approved negotiations with Seven States in 2008. The move was meant to provide stability in ownership if TVA assets were ever sold by the U.S. government. (READ MORE: Climate groups, senators criticize TVA for fossil gas expansion plans) In the process, Seven States would empower local distributors that operate in a power system where one entity has historically owned and operated all the power plants and transmission lines. "(TVA was) up against the same challenges we're up against today," said Edward Kemp, general manager of Starkville Utilities in Mississippi. "At that time, as well as today, all the local power companies really want to be a part of the solution. We want to help. We're not just depending upon TVA to do everything for us." In 2020, TVA granted its local power companies the ability to generate or buy up to 5% of their electricity. Seven States found a niche in helping local utilities develop their own generating sources, work it continues to do. But as TVA's power demand is rising again after a period in the 2010s marked by flat demand growth, Seven States sees a chance to go big again. The cooperative could once again become a major finance partner to TVA, said Chris Jones, president of the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp. The move would only enhance the public power model that's characterized the region since Congress created TVA during the Great Depression. "It can be even better whenever local power companies are given more priority as a practical partner," Jones said. "I think we're seeing that day come, and Seven States is going to be part of it."

Memphis Utility Proposes Massive Battery Storage Across Shelby County

By Jessica Bradshaw • July 21, 2026
Source: Hoodline | 21 July 2026 | By Bob Norris Memphis Light, Gas & Water is gearing up for a massive battery play that could reshape how Shelby County keeps the lights on and the bills in check. Utility leaders say a new countywide battery storage network could cut pricey wholesale power purchases and help keep electric rates steady well into the next decade. The idea is simple enough, even if the hardware is anything but. MLGW wants large-scale batteries stationed at key substations around the county, ready to kick in when demand spikes and wholesale prices jump. What’s Being Proposed MLGW outlined a plan to install 125 megawatts of battery storage spread across nine substations in Shelby County. The systems would quietly charge up overnight when power is cheaper, then discharge during peak hours to reduce what the utility has to buy from the Tennessee Valley Authority at premium prices. Locations floated by officials include Cordova, Collierville, Whitehaven and North Memphis, according to Action News 5 . It is a far cry from a backup battery in your hallway closet. Project Partners And Funding Regional developer Seven States Power, which is leading the broader Energy Express initiative, is lining up the pieces behind the scenes. The MLGW portion is expected to account for roughly 100 megawatts of a 220-megawatt rollout across Tennessee, supported by about $439 million in zero-interest loans and grants from USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. Seven States Power says construction is scheduled to start in 2027, with a goal of having the full system up and running by December 2028. What City Leaders Were Told Speaking to the Memphis City Council, MLGW President Doug McGowen framed the storage push as a direct play to keep customer bills from climbing. He said the strategy is “designed to push rates downward, down, not up,” and MLGW told council members it does not expect an electric rate increase until after 2030, according to Action News 5 . How This Fits With MLGW’s Earlier Plans This battery push did not come out of nowhere. In March 2025, MLGW issued a request for proposals seeking roughly 100 megawatts of solar generation paired with about 80 megawatts of utility-scale battery storage, along with smaller distribution-level projects. According to MLGW , that RFP let vendors pitch either utility-owned projects or third-party power purchase deals as the utility began testing the waters on local generation and storage. Benefits And Outstanding Questions Seven States estimates the combined battery installations would support power needs for roughly 12,000 homes and create construction jobs along the way. The setup is also expected to limit MLGW’s exposure to the most expensive peak market purchases. But some big pieces still have to fall into place. Siting, permitting and contract details have not been finalized, and the partners say they plan public outreach and technical reviews before any shovels hit the ground, as outlined by Seven States Power . Next steps include more detailed technical studies, regulatory sign-offs, and public briefings before contracts are locked in and crews mobilize in 2027. If the schedule holds, the batteries would be online by December 2028, giving MLGW a new tool to shave peak costs and put continued downward pressure on rates across Shelby County.
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