TAEBC announces new Power Infrastructure Solutions Working Group at Annual Meeting
The meeting focused on the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, energy demand, and energy as an engine of economic development.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) hosted its annual meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. During the event, TAEBC Executive Director Cortney Piper announced the creation of the new Power Infrastructure Solutions Working Group – bringing together industry leaders to develop actionable, market-driven solutions to meet the state’s growing electricity demand and infrastructure challenges.
“It is clear from the AI Tennessee Summit last week that the White House is bullish on artificial intelligence, it wants Tennessee to lead and Tennessee is willing to lead,” said Piper. “Energy infrastructure is a critical piece of seizing this moment and there is no better organization to lead on providing energy recommendations than TAEBC. Our members have an unmatched depth of experience to create comprehensive solutions.”
This group will produce a report and policy recommendations for the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority, focused on accelerating the deployment of new generation and grid capacity, attracting private capital investment, and expanding flexibility and optionality for local power companies. The Power Infrastructure Solutions Working Group will begin meeting this spring, with a first report out this summer and final recommendations this fall.
Following the announcement and a review of the council’s year of accomplishments, including the addition of 17 new members, was a panel presentation featuring Braden Stover, Chief Policy Officer of the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TNECD), and Tyer Mauldin, Energy Regulatory & Policy Affairs Lead for Google, discussed how TAEBC members and energy allies are working together to meet Tennessee’s growing power needs.
“The current administration has a goal of strengthening the U.S. position as an energy and technology leader. TVA is in a prime position to be the model for how to do that the right way through these public-private partnerships,” said Mauldin, referencing the collaboration between Google, Kairos Power, and TVA to enable 500 MW of new, advanced nuclear capacity to come online by 2035 in support of Google’s load growth.
Beth Shelton, Director of the State of Tennessee Division of Radiological Health for the Department of Environment and Conservation, spoke about new first-of-a-kind fusion regulations set to take effect this June, making Tennessee the first state to do so.
The annual meeting featured a Q&A session with new TAEBC board members, including Mauldin, Chris Jones, President and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE), and Kyle Spurgeon, President and CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber.
“Tennessee is in an incredible position, leading the charge from an energy security and national security standpoint with nuclear energy,” said Jones. “Public-private partnerships are where we can make that difference.”
Meeting attendees and members from across the state also heard from Clifton Lowry, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Planning and Investor Relations, who gave an update on TVA’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.
“The IRP provides directional considerations and guidance for meeting our region’s energy needs. We are completing IRP work now, have shared those results with the IRP Working Group, and will be doing the same process through a series of public virtual webinars as well as the Regional Energy Resource Council,” said Lowry.
TVA is expected to present a final IRP recommendation at the May 22 TVA public board meeting.
For more information about TAEBC, visit tnadvancedenergy.com or contact Rachel Anderson at [email protected].
About Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC)
TAEBC champions advanced energy as an economic development and job creation strategy. Advanced energy is technology-neutral and includes electricity and transportation. Anything that makes energy cleaner, safer, more secure, or more efficient is in the tent. No other entity in the state concentrates specifically on this robust sector. We educate public officials and business leaders about Tennessee’s advanced energy economy, establish strategic partnerships to connect assets with opportunities, and inform policy that expands and strengthens the industry. TAEBC hosts the Energizing Tennessee podcast, which explores the latest news and insights about the advanced energy sector. For more information, visit https://tnadvancedenergy.com.