Tennessee

Batteries

Batteries are helping Chattanooga keep the lights on — and bills low

In Tennessee, municipal utility EPB is scaling up its battery fleet in order to improve grid resilience and also shave costs for its customers.

By Julian Spector .

19 November 2025

A battery system sits alongside power lines in a remote wooded lot near Chattanooga, Tennessee — The Sale Creek battery outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, kept the lights on for local residents during an unanticipated outage in October. (EPB)

Energy markets

Why states are threatening to leave PJM — and why they probably won’t

The grid operator’s high power prices and long interconnection queue have Democratic and Republican governors eyeing an exit, but analysts warn it could backfire.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 26 September 2025
ENN

Long burdened by a coal plant, South Memphis residents say no to coal ash in their backyard

Documents show a plan to move ash from a TVA coal plant through a Black neighborhood was finalized long before residents had a say in the matter.

By Chloe Hilles . 22 August 2022
ENN

Biden vows to support struggling Appalachian counties, but residents are weary of failed promises

Coal communities in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia are struggling to support basic civic services as coal disappears. Federal funding to boost local economies and jobs is closer than ever before.

By Mason Adams . 2 June 2021
ENN

Charity or manipulation? Memphis nonprofits discuss, defend accepting donations from Byhalia Pipeline

Critics argue pipeline developers are using cash to win community support, but some who received money say they can’t be bought.

By Carrington J. Tatum . 4 May 2021
ENN

Commentary: Biden’s TVA appointments offer crucial chance for climate justice

Biden's nominations to the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority could help fulfill his climate promise by making TVA a model for how public power can lead the clean energy transition, writes guest commentator Gaby Sarri-Tobar.

By Gaby Sarri-Tobar . 4 May 2021
ENN

Chattanooga looks to extend electric bus range with wireless charging

The city is among the first to install inductive charging stations to power an electric bus fleet.

By Keith Schneider . 17 July 2019
ENN

Next phase for Chattanooga’s smart grid: an airport microgrid

The city continues to build on its partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory with a solar-storage microgrid project at its municipal airport.

By Jim Pierobon . 14 March 2018
ENN

Southeast utilities — and customers — embracing community solar

The growth of consumer purchases of solar power via community-based systems is accelerating throughout the Southeast as more utilities develop or roll out offerings.

By Jim Pierobon . 31 January 2018
ENN

Workshops aim to train architects, engineers on solar basics

While training opportunities abound for installers, a series of workshops in three southern cities aims to bring architects and other design professionals up to speed on solar.

By Douglas J. Guth . 12 December 2017
ENN

Virginia company using smart meters to get more solar on the grid

A Virginia company says its technology can tap smart meter data to significantly increase the grid’s capacity to host wind and solar power.

By Karen Haywood Queen . 31 October 2016