Dion Cooper

With over 30 years of industry experience, Dion Cooper’s transition to President & CEO of Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) in 2022 was an opportunity to ensure their system was prepared for the future with innovative solutions.

“One area that we’ve worked to improve is to get more downline controls. We’ve got fiber to our substations and are actively working to implement more smart grid technologies. VEC has been awarded a DOE grant through the MG CARED program, as well as an additional battery grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). We partnered with North Georgia EMC and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC for a multi-state award, which was the first of its kind. In total, the three cooperatives will receive $10M to go toward the installation of additional battery storage systems in our service areas, and VEC plans to install an additional 4MW of batteries in Meigs County with our portion of the award. That battery piece is probably the biggest thing that we’re chasing right now—that will help improve our reliability even more.”

Dion knows his LPC is responsible for the present and future of his community’s needs, and he wants his members to know that he strategically evaluates new technology with a long-term vision.

“I want our members to know that we always look for opportunities that are going to benefit them in terms of reliability, cost, and anything we can do to improve their service level. We don’t pursue technology for technology’s sake—and as a former IT guy, I love technology—but there has to be a value to the cooperative in order to implement innovation.”

Dion knows that Seven States is a helpful resource as his community’s needs continue to evolve and diversify.

“We look at Seven States as a valuable partner, not only from a standpoint of doing projects together, but for expertise also—we can reach out to their team and lean on them. With our interest in battery storage and Seven States’ experience in that arena, we are confident that we’ll be able to work together in the future as we continue to explore what can best benefit our community.”

With so much technological advancement in the Valley, Dion encourages fellow leaders to find what works best for their LPC and to not be afraid to bring about community change and benefits.

“Don’t be afraid to implement new technologies just because it hasn’t been done; don’t let that be a deterrent. You don’t have to live on the cutting edge, but it’s okay to be first sometimes, especially if it has a tremendous value to the organization and to your members. Getting buy-in from your team, board, and community is vital, and if you have a technology that is going to bring real, tangible value to your community, and you keep that at the forefront of everything you do, everything else will fall into place.”

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Electric Board of Guntersville, City of Guntersville, and Seven States Power Corporation Unveil Battery Storage and EV Charging at Guntersville Senior Center

By Jessica Bradshaw • October 2, 2026

GUNTERSVILLE, AL — October 2, 2026 — Electric Board of Guntersville and the City of Guntersville, in partnership with Seven States Power Corporation, today celebrated the ribbon cutting and official unveiling of a new battery energy storage system (BESS) and two electric vehicle (EV) charging ports at the Guntersville Senior Center. The project represents an investment in reliability, emergency preparedness and modern energy infrastructure for the Guntersville community. The battery system is designed to provide backup power to the Senior Center during outages, helping the facility continue serving residents when reliable electricity is needed most. The addition of battery storage will also enable the Senior Center to meet critical emergency preparedness requirements for designation as a FEMA shelter, strengthening its ability to serve residents during severe weather and other emergency events. “This project is about putting innovative technology to work in a way that directly benefits the people we serve,” said Jason Kirkland, General Manager of Electric Board of Guntersville. “By adding battery storage and EV charging at the Senior Center, we are investing in infrastructure that supports reliability today while preparing our community for the needs of tomorrow.” The City of Guntersville partnered with Electric Board of Guntersville and Seven States to bring a 261kWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to the Senior Center, supporting an investment that strengthens the facility’s role as a vital community resource and enhances its ability to serve residents during emergencies. The battery unit will store energy during off-peak hours and be used as necessary to supply power to the facility during an outage or to deploy power for up to 2 hours back onto the Guntersville electric grid. The two new EV charging ports complement the battery installation by expanding access to charging infrastructure for residents and visitors. Together, the technologies demonstrate how community-scale energy projects can provide practical benefits while helping local power companies modernize infrastructure. “What makes this project special is its purpose. This battery is more than a piece of energy infrastructure, it provides another tool to help Guntersville care for its residents and keep an important community facility powered when it matters most,” said Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar. “Seven States was created to help local power companies turn opportunities like this into projects that deliver meaningful benefits in their communities,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President & CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. The Guntersville project is part of Seven States’ broader work with local power companies across the Tennessee Valley to develop and finance energy infrastructure tailored to local needs.

Seven States Power Corporation Issues RFP for 220MW Energy Express Battery Storage Project

By Jessica Bradshaw • September 2, 2026

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — September 02, 2026 — Seven States Power Corporation has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a qualified provider to supply battery energy storage systems and a 20-year long-term service agreement for the Energy Express Project, a 220-megawatt battery storage initiative being developed in partnership with Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), Nashville Electric Service (NES), and BrightRidge. The competitive procurement represents another major milestone as Seven States advances one of the Tennessee Valley’s most significant investments in distribution-connected battery storage. The Energy Express Project will deploy battery energy storage across multiple locations in west, middle, and east Tennessee, including 100MW in partnership with MLGW, 100MW with NES, and 20MW with BrightRidge. Seven States will own and operate the assets, which will be interconnected with the local utilities’ distribution systems and designed to charge during lower-demand periods and discharge when demand is highest. The systems will provide the utility partners with greater operational flexibility while helping manage peak demand, strengthen reliability, and make more efficient use of existing grid infrastructure. “Moving into procurement marks an important step toward delivering these assets for our local power company partners and the communities they serve,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “Through Energy Express, we are combining federal financing, local partnerships and innovative energy technology to make a long-term investment in the Tennessee Valley’s electric infrastructure. This RFP will help us identify a partner capable not only of delivering the technology, but of supporting its performance and reliability throughout the life of the project.” The Energy Express Project is backed by Seven States’ $439 million award through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the battery assets targeted for commissioning in late 2028. Interested respondents can access the RFP and additional procurement information at https://www.sevenstatespower.com/rfp-inquiry.

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.