Seven States ‘Celebrates Innovation’ at 2022 Annual Meeting in Memphis, TN
November 21, 2022

Seven States Power Corporation held its 2022 Annual Meeting November 2-3 at the FedEx Institute of Technology on the University of Memphis campus in Memphis, Tennessee.

The two-day event kicked off with a board meeting on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 2. Leaders of LPCs across the Tennessee Valley participated in a business meeting the following morning, which was followed by guest speakers and an expert panel discussion. A dedication ceremony for two new solar workstations concluded the gathering.

“Our theme for this year’s Annual Meeting, ‘Celebrate Innovation,’ represents the progress our member-owner LPCs and Seven States have made together as we move the Valley forward through technology,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “We appreciate our member-owners joining us for this year’s annual meeting in Memphis – it was exciting to see one another.”

The following members of the Board of Directors were reelected unanimously during the business meeting component of the Annual Meeting:

  • David Wade, EPB of Chattanooga for Division 4
  • Mike Partin, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative for Division 7
  • Steve Hargrove, Sheffield Utilities, for Division 9
  • Allen Robbins, Sevier County Electric System, for the Appalachian District
  • Erik Brinke, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation, for the Southeastern District

The Seven States team has doubled in size from four to eight professionals since the previous Annual Meeting at Rock City in Chattanooga, TN. The additional bandwidth and depth of experience have allowed the organization to work on 190 individual projects for 84 different LPCs across the Valley. Seven States has also supported over 60 EV and fiber grant opportunities by applying directly or on behalf of LPCs for funds in excess of $117 million.

“I look forward to the Seven States Annual Meeting each year because it allows member-owners to see how our unique organization is succeeding in areas ranging from EV chargers to cybersecurity and everything in between,” said Jeff Dykes, CEO of BrightRidge and Chairman of the Seven States Power Corporation Board of Directors. “I enjoyed the opportunity to see so many familiar faces and discuss the ways the Board can continue to support the mission of Seven States.”

Following the conclusion of the business meeting, attendees heard from featured guest speakers, including Jeff Lyash, President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and George Andraos, Director of Sustainable Energy and Innovation at Ford Motor Company.

Lyash discussed the important role Seven States plays in the region and answered several questions from the audience on a range of topics such as grid resiliency and decarbonization strategies.

“Seven States has made such huge progress in a short period of time,” said Lyash. “I view Seven States as one of the key innovation players here in the Valley. With the right focus, it could be a key player nationally. It’s a great model.”

Andraos discussed what Ford is doing to bring quality jobs and technological innovation to the Valley through BlueOval City.

“We’re investing $5.6 billion here. BlueOval City isn’t just a project for Ford – it’s the future of Ford,” said Andraos. “I have never seen a site that has come together like the site here in western Tennessee.”

The Innovation Champion Award was presented to Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal on behalf of the University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology. The SPARK Award was awarded to Andrea Harrington on behalf of Weakley County Municipal Electric System. And finally, Philip Lim of Middle TN Electric won a green electric guitar giveaway prize.

The annual meeting concluded with the announcement that drew great fanfare from the attendees: the 2023 Seven States Annual Meeting will be held Nov. 1-2 at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY!

After lunch, leaders from MLGW, the FedEx Institute, TVA, and Seven States dedicated two new solar workstations on the University of Memphis campus. These innovative additions will give students, faculty, staff, and visitors a place to sit and charge electronic devices for years to come using the power of the sun.

Read more about the workstations dedication event here. To view photos from the 2022 Annual Meeting, click here.

 

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By Jessica Bradshaw June 25, 2025
Seven States Power Corporation’s Board Chairman, Jeff Dykes, and President & CEO, Betsey Kirk McCall, met with Congressional leaders earlier this summer as part of a strategic initiative to advance funding to install technologies that make power more efficient, reliable, and abundant. Dykes and McCall sought to amplify the need for greater federal support to Tennessee Valley LPCs for increasing America’s energy infrastructure during a time where creative options are needed against the backdrop of unprecedented growth. A primary objective of the trip was to listen to legislators’ areas of focus and educate the leaders on how Seven States supports the Valley through times of transition. Many LPCs have voiced concerns over the volume of requests they are receiving to supply energy to data centers. Dykes and McCall emphasized the opportunities Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and alternative financing provide for accelerating large-scale projects that can supply this growing demand for energy. To date, more than 1200 data centers are in development across the U.S. that will consume an estimated 149.6 -239.3 TWH annually. That represents the equivalent of 15-25 large nuclear plants running continuously to supply the need. Dykes and McCall stressed how cooperatives like Seven States can leverage funding models that alleviate the capital outlays for and accelerate construction of projects that can accommodate the expected growth in the Valley over the next decade from these data centers. “It will take LPCs, TVA, communities, companies, and developers working together on such projects to meet the need and keep the lights on,” said Dykes. “We understand that these data centers represent an opportunity for investment in the region. These dollars will improve communities and attract high quality economic development prospects. We want to ensure our member LPCs and TVA are supported and prepared to deliver this opportunity to the Valley,” said McCall. Dykes and McCall also underscored that Seven States was created by LPCs, in partnership with TVA, as a strategic solution to TVA’s debt ceiling limitations—without amending the TVA Act. From 2007 to 2013, Seven States became the first —and remains the only— LPC-led organization to successfully negotiate a sale/leaseback agreement with TVA to co-own a utility-scale generation asset: the Southaven 800MW Combined Cycle Gas Plant. This makes Seven States uniquely qualified as an in-Valley solution to finance and co-own generation assets with TVA.  “Seven States was created for moments like this. We often serve as the designer or developer, deploying capital and project management expertise to build reliable or advanced energy infrastructure on behalf of LPCs. This allows LPCs to avoid the burden of raising capital or navigating complex regulatory issues,” said McCall. Another key focus of the trip was to share project updates on the $439 million in funding secured earlier this year through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s New ERA program. Dykes and McCall outlined how this investment will be used to deliver 250MWs of additional power—aligning with national priorities on energy dominance and security. While in Washington, the team also met directly with USDA officials to provide a progress report on the project. “We are at a pivotal moment where federal partnerships can accelerate the progress our members are already making,” McCall said. “Our goal is to ensure their contributions—and their challenges—are clearly understood as Congress shapes the future of energy policy.” More recently, McCall was also in the area conducting meetings during President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill event where Zach Stewart of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative was among those recognized for their service to the nation in the energy industry. McCall was on site as the new Rural Utilities Services Administrator at USDA, Karl Elmshaeuser, was announced. McCall met with Christopher McClean, former Acting RUS Administrator as part of a series of meetings to further map project details related to the $439 million awarded to Seven States by USDA. By engaging directly with lawmakers and federal agencies, Dykes and McCall are working to ensure that regulatory frameworks reflect on-the-ground realities. These Washington outreach efforts reinforce Seven States’ commitment to building an energy system that is affordable, reliable, and future-focused. Dykes and McCall expect continued conversations throughout the year as the Valley’s energy future takes shape.
By Jessica Bradshaw June 25, 2025
Seven States recently had the privilege of partnering with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to provide consulting support for energy efficiency upgrades at their main distribution facility. Serving 20 counties across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, the Food Bank distributed over 15 million pounds of food last year—equivalent to more than 12 million meals for families in need. With such a vital and energy-intensive operation, improving energy performance means more resources can go directly toward feeding the region. Our team conducted a comprehensive energy assessment, identifying key opportunities to reduce utility costs through more efficient lighting, refrigeration, and HVAC systems. These recommendations are expected to cut energy use by up to 25%, translating into substantial cost savings over time. By optimizing energy performance, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank can reinvest those savings into expanding food access, enhancing logistics, and continuing their mission to eliminate hunger and promote healthier communities.  This collaboration not only underscores the connection between energy efficiency and social good, but also highlights how thoughtful upgrades can deliver lasting value for mission-driven organizations. We're proud to support the Food Bank’s critical work and look forward to seeing the positive ripple effects of this project across the communities they serve.
June 19, 2025
Leading Forked Deer Electric Cooperative as General Manager & CEO, Jeff Newman has firsthand knowledge of how vital technology is to the Valley and what a difference it has made in his community. “In our footprint, two of the most critical technology developments were broadband expansion and system automation. Bringing our system up-to-date has been a top priority, and that started with implementing SCADA across the network—a process that’s still ongoing. SCADA has already made a significant difference by improving our ability to detect and respond to outages quickly, which greatly reduces downtime for our members. On the broadband side, we now serve over 6,800 folks, which represents a substantial portion of our total meters. In a rural area like ours, access to high-speed internet isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity. It’s been a game changer, and the revenue from broadband has helped stabilize our electric rates by offsetting the need for larger increases. So, these technology developments haven’t just modernized our infrastructure—they’ve directly improved quality of life and economic resilience for the people we serve.” As the Valley continues to evolve and technology changes, Jeff views Seven States as a trusted partner that can help LPCs find the best fit for their community. “The biggest thing for us, as a rural utility, was having someone to help us get connected with the right people—whether that’s suppliers, vendors, or experts. We really leaned on Seven States for that support because, honestly, we didn’t even know where to begin. Every utility is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. You have to do what makes sense for your system and your community. A cookie-cutter approach just doesn’t work in this industry, and Seven States knows how to tailor a project or service to fit your exact needs.” Jeff’s advice to GMs who want to bring innovation to their communities is to stay open to progress by listening, learning, and ensuring new ideas truly serve the needs of the ratepayers. “I don’t take credit for the changes we’ve made, but progress happens when you don’t stand in its way. It’s important to evaluate new ideas carefully, make sure they align with your system’s needs, and support what makes sense. The key is to always consider what’s best for your LPC or co-op—and not become an obstacle to improvement.” ###
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