TenneSEIA Solar Association

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote the development of solar energy and complementary technologies, including storage, positioning the Tennessee Valley’s residents and businesses as leaders in clean energy deployment and economic development.

- TenneSEIA Executive Committee
& Board Members

Have you registered yet?

September 1st, 2nd and 3rd!

Hot News

1.

TVA, Plus Power announce 20-year energy storage agreement in Jackson County

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has entered into a long-term agreement with Plus Power to develop a large-scale battery energy storage project in Jackson County, a move aimed at strengthening grid reliability and supporting continued economic growth across North Alabama.

The 20-year energy storage agreement will add a 200-megawatt / 800-megawatt-hour battery system through the Crawfish Creek Energy Storage project. TVA selected the project through a competitive request for proposals issued in early 2025 to secure new capacity resources for the Tennessee Valley.

The standalone system will be developed and owned by Plus Power, while TVA will manage charging and dispatching the stored energy based on system needs.

IPP Tenaska signs ESA for 900MWh Tennessee BESS

Bobwhite Energy Storage, an affiliate of independent power producer (IPP) Tenaska has signed a long-term energy storage agreement (ESA) with utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for a 225MW/900MWh project in East Tennessee, US.

The Bobwhite battery energy storage system (BESS) project, which Tenaska claims is currently in advanced development in Hawkins County, is expected to start construction in 2027 and come online in late 2029.

Tenaska’s ESA with TVA, the largest public energy provider in the US, spans 20 years, and the utility said it will help to support its “strategic commitment to strengthen grid reliability, manage peak demand and integrate more resources to help keep power affordable for hardworking American families.”

Distributed Resilience: the Tennessee Valley’s bottom-up answer to winter storm Fern

In the wake of winter storms Elliott and Fern, utilities in the Tennessee Valley have taken different approaches toward building resilience, offering examples to those still planning for the next storm.

Billion-dollar weather disasters now strike the United States every 19 days, up from every 90 days in the 1980s. That shift explains why the conversation in the Tennessee Valley has moved from whether the centralized grid will fail to who is building the layer of resilience underneath it.

Two storms frame the story. Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022 broke the old model. Winter Storm Fern in January 2026, which left 230,000 Nashville Electric Service customers in the dark and took as long as 13 days to fully restore, confirmed that the distributed answer is no longer optional.

For years America built solar farms with foreign parts, but a giant Georgia megafactory just changed that calculation

by Kelly L. June 15, 2026 at 2:40 PM
For five years running, the U.S. has installed more solar capacity than any other type of power generation. Yet for most of that boom, the cell — the component that actually converts sunlight into electricity — has been manufactured almost entirely overseas. American factories could assemble finished panels, but the critical piece at the heart of each one came from somewhere else.

Now, inside a sprawling, L-shaped factory in Cartersville, Georgia, that long-standing gap is beginning to close.

Recognizing Leadership in Advancing Solar and Energy Storage in Tennessee

The 2025 Solar Champions represent outstanding leadership in expanding clean energy adoption, strengthening grid innovation, and advancing solar and energy storage across the Tennessee Valley. Each honoree has played a critical role in accelerating deployment, supporting customers, and shaping a more resilient and forward-looking energy future.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell – City of Nashville

Mayor O’Connell has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing Nashville’s clean energy goals through policies and partnerships that support renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and long-term sustainability planning. Under his leadership, the city has strengthened its commitment to reducing emissions while expanding access to modern energy solutions, including solar integration and grid modernization initiatives that position Nashville as a regional leader in clean energy progress.

Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE)

Middle Tennessee Electric continues to be a driving force in expanding solar access and energy innovation across its service territory. Through member-focused programs, strategic investments, and partnerships, MTE has supported the growth of distributed solar, enhanced grid reliability, and advanced energy storage readiness. Its efforts reflect a strong commitment to balancing affordability, reliability, and the transition toward a more diversified energy mix.

Nashville Electric Service (NES)

Nashville Electric Service has played a key role in advancing utility-scale and distributed solar development while supporting the city’s broader sustainability and resilience goals. NES has actively engaged in integrating renewable energy resources, supporting customer adoption programs, and collaborating on initiatives that strengthen the region’s clean energy infrastructure and long-term grid stability.

Award winners pictured at the award ceremony along with members of the TenneSEIA Board, staff and key stakeholders.

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