Long-term resilience is the aim of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Connected Communities program that recently brought together folks from all around the region, meeting just days prior to devastating flooding following the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Now that many of these same communities are pitching in with short-term relief for storm victims, they are also either implementing or planning long-term efforts to make the Tennessee Valley stronger in the event of future disasters.

Opening the gathering in Franklin, Tennessee, on September 25, 2024, Dan Pratt, TVA senior vice president of regional relations, said “We see decentralization, decarbonization … The best thing that we can do is collaboratively define the future that we want to work toward.”

The Connected Communities program focuses on these main areas:

  • Economic Empowerment
  • Enhanced Community Resiliency
  • Energy and Environmental Justice
  • Broadband and Digital Literacy

You can read about the program and learn about your community applying for a grant at the website.

TVA Connected Communities includes several innovative programs to bring everything from advancing digital literacy and broadband access, to assembling mobile microgrids for community hubs to use in case of disaster, to a school adding solar energy to offset its electrical consumption. Programs also include education for tomorrow’s workforce such as the PBS JobPop series that featured Solar Alliance explaining solar technician jobs.

Amy Henry, TVA director of transformative innovation, stressed to the Franklin gathering “the power of collaboration” in making projects work in communities throughout the TVA region. “Together, what kind of a transition could we be making in the Valley?”

Conference presenters stressed that support found through TVA and/or federal grant and incentive programs are especially focused on helping the most economically disadvantaged areas. This includes administration of new Solar for All programs being implemented in coming years, with leadership from the states of Tennessee and Kentucky as well as the nonprofit Groundswell program in other Southern states.

Anne Brock is marketing coordinator for Solar Alliance, which designs and manages solar installation projects for large manufacturers and small businesses. She can be reached via email or 865-221-8349.