Seven States Power Corporation is a place where energy, innovation and engineering come together. That is how Executive Vice President Betsey Kirk McCall described the energy solutions organization when she spoke at TVPPA’s All Member Meeting in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Seven States, which serves the same local power company members as TVPPA, is growing exponentially as it crisscrosses the Tennessee Valley designing, developing and deploying renewable energy technologies in partnership with its members.

“We don’t just talk about energy products and services, we listen to the needs of our members and provide real solutions,” said McCall as she displayed a map depicting where her team has completed turnkey procurement and installation of EV chargers, backup generation and DER management systems across the Valley. “It’s early in the ballgame and we are just getting started.”

McCall recapped Seven States’ 2019 performance highlights, which included:

  • 2 new members: Scottsboro Electric Power Board and Jellico Electric & Water Systems
  • 33 electric vehicle (EV) charger installations
  • 3 members taking advantage of special pricing for OATI’s DER Management System Software
  • 15 economic analyses on projects for members
  • 3 backup generation procurements
  • 3 districts mapped in a single GIS model of fiber connectivity

Noting that Seven States’ funding source has an expiration date, she outlined a strategy for long-term viability. She said the organization is focused on delivering cost-effective technology solutions to its members, investing in and learning from significant research that it can apply when designing solutions, and leveraging strategic partnerships to provide technologies to members at the lowest possible cost.

McCall discussed several successful projects that occurred in 2019, including one with Sevier County Electric System that involved the installation of electric vehicle chargers at Dollywood amusement park and DreamMore Resort. -Sevier County ES reported at the last Seven States board meeting that the company’s relationship with their customer was strengthened by the joint project.

“That’s when it hit us. We were experiencing in real time the fulfillment of the Seven States mission,” said McCall. “We empower our members to respond to customer demand for renewable energy in an evolving marketplace.”

Looking towards 2020, in its ongoing effort to empower members to meet the energy demands of the future, McCall announced the company is expanding its offerings to include solutions related to solar, cyber security and interconnected fiber.

She reported that Seven States is building a network of leading edge, innovative companies with which to create partnerships and conduct significant research, including Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council and Tennessee Technological University.  Seven States featured Randy Boyd, Interim President of the University of Tennessee as keynote speaker at its 2019 Annual Meeting held at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be the site of this year’s Annual Meeting, held Oct. 1-2, 2020.