16 EV Chargers in 8 Weeks: LPCs Trust Seven States
July 18, 2023

What do Clarksville, Lawrenceburg, Bristol, Hohenwald, and Pontotoc, all have in common? They are all home to brand new EV fast chargers thanks to LPCs who trust Seven States to design, develop, and deploy innovative technology like charging infrastructure in their communities.

Tennessee’s Fast Charge Network is being built thanks to the collaboration of numerous public, private, and nonprofit entities all working together for the good of America’s current and future EV drivers. As the country – and especially the Tennessee Valley – continues to invest in the electrification of transportation, Seven States is perfectly positioned as the go-to partner for LPCs looking to make an impact in their community.

On May 17, Seven States and its partners, CDE Lightband, TVA, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), celebrated their work to install four EV fast charging stations in Clarksville. Seven States worked with CDE Lightband to secure the site, procure equipment, install, and commission the chargers.  It also prepared a financial analysis that showed the value of adding an additional 2 chargers at the site, allowing it to be the first four-charger site in the TN Fast Charge Network.

“We moved quickly to participate in Fast Charge TN because we want to make it easy for people to choose EVs so our community can enjoy the environmental and economic benefits of electric transportation,” said Brian Taylor, general manager of CDE Lightband.

Three weeks later, on June 7, Seven States, Lawrenceburg Utility System (LUS), TVA, and TDEC cut the ribbon on two fast chargers in Lawrenceburg. Like all EV charging locations, this one was strategic:  it enables EV drivers to travel from Memphis to Monteagle on the Hwy 64 corridor. Until these partners completed this project, the distance between available chargers was nearly 300 miles — generally too far for an EV on a single charge.

“The funding from TVA and TDEC makes it possible to add fast chargers in our community by providing 80% of the project cost,” said LUS General Manager Vic Pusser.

One week later, on June 15, another ribbon was cut by Seven States and its partners: Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES), the City of Bristol, Sullivan County, and TVA. The region now benefits from four new EV fast chargers located at the Pinnacle Shopping Center near an existing Tesla Supercharger site at the I-81 gateway to the state of Tennessee. Thanks to this project, drivers of all types of EVs now have a great place to stop and recharge.

“It’s the first place as you cross into Tennessee along 81 from the north to have a standardized charger that works on nearly every EV that is out there today,” said Clayton Dowell, CEO of BTES. “[We are proud] to be part of this statewide, Tennessee Valley-wide initiative to eliminate or reduce range anxiety for electric vehicle drivers.”

On June 29, four more EV fast chargers were officially opened to the public in Hohenwald, TN, thanks to a partnership between Seven States, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative (MLEC), TVA, and TDEC. At the ribbon cutting, MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan praised the partners for coming together to benefit not only the residents of MLEC’s service territory but visitors who are driving through.

Lastly, on July 19, a ribbon-cutting event officially opened the first two EV fast chargers in Pontotoc, Mississippi, as part of the Fast Charge Network. The event was rescheduled due to inclement weather in June. Pontotoc Electric Power Association (PEPA), Seven States, and TVA were proud to partner on this project.

“This charging location does more than charge cars — it connects Pontotoc to the Fast Charge Network and plays an important role in putting our region on the leading edge of the new electric economy,” said PEPA General Manager Frankie Moorman.

It has been an exciting and busy two months, but Seven States is always ready for the challenge. The cooperative is proud to serve LPCs across the Valley by delivering innovative technologies like EV charging. Reach out to Lance Irwin or Joe Knox to learn more about how Seven States can support your LPC’s EV infrastructure projects.

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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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