Cleveland Utilities (CU) will install six new fast chargers at its main campus parking lot, as part of the Fast Charge TN Network—a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Seven States Power Corporation.
The public fast-charging network has deployed over 100 stations at more than 50 locations, focusing on both urban and rural communities. The program was designed to help local communites gain access to alternative refueling options and support the local businesses near those charging locations.
Together, TVA and TDEC brought together local power companies, state and local government partners, and other stakeholders to support residents who choose to drive EVs. Each EV in the region helps reduce carbon emissions by utilizing TVA’s diverse portfolio, which is one of the lowest carbon power systems in the country.
“We prioritized participating in Fast Charge TN because we want to make it easy for people to choose EVs, helping our community benefit from the environmental and economic benefits of electric transportation,” said Tim O. Henderson, President/CEO of CU, in a statement. “The funding from TVA and TDEC made it possible for CU to add fast chargers in our community by providing 80% of the project cost.”
Additionally, the Tennessee Valley has seen significant interest in EV manufacturing, with over 14,000 related jobs created in the last decade.
TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greg Young added, “Tennessee’s air is cleaner as measured by federal air quality standards than it has been in generations, and a clean environment helps drive economic development. TDEC is partnering with TVA and Cleveland Utilities on the development of this station to continue Tennessee’s environmental and economic momentum while further entrenching our state as the epicenter of the electric vehicle transition.”
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