Investment Tax Credits: 7 Takeaways for New Projects
September 9, 2025

Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) remain one of the most effective tools available to local power companies (LPCs) and private businesses looking to accelerate energy infrastructure investments. With recent federal legislation revising eligibility and critical deadlines approaching, the time is now to use ITCs toward planned projects.


Seven States has closely monitored every stage of legislative changes to the ITC policies, ensuring that project partners stay informed on evolving opportunities and risks. Beyond tracking policy shifts, Seven States has actively advocated for protecting ITC provisions to our federal, state, and local delegations, reinforcing their long-term value for the communities they serve.


Following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and subsequent changes by Treasury, here are seven key takeaways on how to utilize ITC to lower costs for anticipated solar and battery storage projects. Seven States recently completed its ITC registration of a battery storage asset and is prepared to guide project partners through these opportunities, as well as offer technical expertise, project management, and financing coordination to maximize every dollar of value.


1. Don’t Miss Critical Deadlines
Timing is essential when it comes to ITCs. Credit rates often decline over time, and most projects must meet “begin construction” requirements by July 4, 2025 to secure the highest incentives. Proper documentation is essential to qualify. Seven States helps members stay ahead of these timelines with expert guidance on compliance, permitting, and project execution.


2. Battery Storage Projects Remain Eligible
One of the most impactful updates to ITC policy is the protection of standalone battery storage. Moreover, ITCs help make solar-plus-storage a practical reality. These solutions provide load management, outage resilience, and support for emerging operational integrations. Seven States offers the know-how to design and finance these systems, helping members capture the full benefits.


3. Solar Projects Remain Eligible
Solar energy continues to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of ITCs. By covering a significant portion of upfront costs, ITCs make solar projects more affordable and financially attractive for LPCs and businesses. This enables owners to grow their generation portfolios, reduce risk, and deliver cost savings to end users. Pairing ITCs with Seven States’ technical expertise ensures solar installations are optimized for performance and long-term community benefit.


4. Be aware of Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) Policies
Recent updates to federal policy now restrict the use of ITCs for projects that source equipment or materials from “foreign entities of concern,” such as China. This shift makes supply chain diligence more critical than ever, as project owners must carefully select vendors and partners to ensure ITC eligibility and avoid costly disqualifications. Seven States can help navigate these evolving requirements by vetting technology providers, coordinating compliant procurement strategies, and reducing the risk of ineligibility—ensuring projects move forward with confidence and maximum financial benefit.


5. Financing Complexity Requires Expertise
Navigating ITC rules, financing structures, and transferability provisions is not simple. The upside is substantial, but so is the complexity. Seven States provides the expertise needed to manage these elements, from structuring deals and securing tax equity to coordinating compliance.


6. The Cost of Waiting Is High
Between phasedown schedules, rising project costs, and supply chain constraints, waiting to act can mean missing out on millions in incentives. Project Owners that move quickly will lock in higher ITC rates, secure financing on favorable terms, and be first in line for limited equipment and contractor availability. Seven States is ready to help move projects from planning to implementation before windows close.


7. Seven States Is Your ITC Partner
Seven States brings deep technical knowledge and financial coordination expertise. As a trusted partner, Seven States can help LPCs and businesses identify the right projects, capture available incentives, and deliver more reliable energy at a lower cost. The time to act is now—and with Seven States, you don’t have to navigate the ITC landscape alone.


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.
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.
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.
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