Smart Grid Chattanooga

Advocates, in the wake of storm-induced power outages, urge adoption of full smart-grid technologies for electric utilities, the TFP reports.

TVA profits and congressional scrutiny are up

TVA's recent decision to idle coal-fired power plants, its unexpected surge in earnings and other issues have put them in the crosshairs of at least one congressman. The TFP reports.

Alstom's 1st US-made turbine

Alstom, the French company now producing steam and gas turbines in a new plant in the Chattanooga area, this month shipped its first delivery. The TFP has it. Other VentureNashville coverage.

TVA region redux

Investment and employment recovery in the 7-state region served by TVA is up only slight, said SVP John Bradley. The TFP has it.

Regs create enviro jobs

Bert Mathews of Nashville's The Mathews Co. is among those stressing that compliance with environmental regulations to create cleaner power production can produce new jobs. The release is here.

TVA debt ceiling

TVA, by adding more than $900MM to its indebtedness, is fast-approaching its congressionally mandated debt ceiling. The TFP has it.

TVA cites potential TN data-center sites

TVA retained Deloitte to help the power producer identify sites in Tennessee for future data centers, which could operate using the cost-advantaged TVA power grid. Details are here.

Tennesseans run TVA confirmation gauntlet

Three Tennesseans testified yesterday before a Senate confirmations committee exploring their ability to serve on the TVA board of directors. Supporting their nominations, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander is quoted as saying there is no institution in our region more important than the TVA. The KNS story is here.

Kville's Smart Grid player

Knoxville-based EnerNex Corp. has a key contractual role in supporting NIST's work toward protocols for the U.S. Smart Grid. The release is here.

KUB gets 'smarter', slowly

Larissa Brass reports Knoxville's KUB utility is moving, but slowly toward the 'smart grid'.

More renewable-energy benefit

A study by the University of Tennessee's Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group says there are "significant market opportunities" for agriculture, if Congress enacts a national renewable energy standard (RES) policy. Standards would increase the share of electricity generated by renewable-resource means, and produce new jobs and wealth, directly and indirectly. The release is here.

Stakeholders watch TVA

TVA yesterday announced members of its new Stakeholder Review Group, which is tasked with providing feedback on TVA's power-generation and marketing plans. Members include executives with TN Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and others.

Enernex wins smart-grid contract

Knoxville-based EnerNex Corp. has won an $8.5 million contract from the National Institute for Standards and Technology to develop crucially important interoperable technical standards essential for the operation of the smart grid of the future. Larisa Brass reports it here.

e-Car industry power grab

Addressing an issue closely followed by Tennesseans and their Governor, the Columbus Dispatch reports that the advent of rechargeable e-cars will require building at least 160 new power plants. The story also discusses relationship to the smart grid, a new power plug that speeds e-fueling and reports data, and more.

'Smart Grid' expert joins UT-ORNL

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge NL partnership announced it has snared a top expert in rsearch and development for 'smart grid' power-transmission technology. Prof. Lilu Liu (left) will move from Virginia Tech to UT-ORNL, to assume a Governor's Chair. Gov. Phil Bredesen hailed the recruitment coup.

ORNL: Nano breakthrough in computer switching, memory

Scientists at the Oak Ridge NL Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, one of five interrelated DOE nanoscience centers, used an instrumented developed at ORNL to discovery a new approach to using ferroelectric nanomaterials to switch, read, write and otherwise manipulate data, using much lower power than current technology. One scientist said, "Harnessing this functionality will ultimately enable smart and ultra-dense memory technology" and open a new era in electronics. The ORNL release is here. KNS Science Writer Frank Munger's take on it is here.