The U.S. Senate confirmed all six of President Biden’s nominees to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Board of Directors on Wednesday, as lawmakers sought to finalize a flurry of legislation and appointments before the holidays.
The TVA Board is supposed to have nine, president-appointed members at all times. But, for nearly two years, the board has been short-staffed with only members appointed by former President Trump. That’s even though three of these new members were first nominated by Biden back in April 2021.
The Board acts as the federal utility’s main check on power, unlike private utilities that answer to a state public utility commission.
Last year, the Trump-filled TVA board voted to give CEO Jeff Lyash the authority to decide what to do with two of its coal plants, the Cumberland and Kingston facilities.
Despite calls from other federal agencies to reconsider adding more fossil fuels, TVA is planning to build two new gas facilities. And, based on when TVA released its environmental review for the site near Clarksville, Lyash could make a decision on the first plant, the Cumberland, in early January — possibly before the new board members are sworn in.
Watchdogs of the utility had urged the Senate to act quickly to confirm Biden’s picks before the board lost its quorum next month.
Among the new members are Beth Geer, chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore; Michelle Moore, who worked for President Obama and heads a clean energy nonprofit; and Robert Klein, a retired line foreman for the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga.
Alabama attorney Joe Ritch is returning to the TVA board after previously serving as its chairman during Obama’s tenure. He’ll be joined by Wade White, a county judge/executive from Kentucky backed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, and William Renick, a former mayor and state lawmaker from Mississippi.
TVA said the official start date for the new board members has not yet been set.
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