As automakers retool their factories to build electric vehicles (EVs), many more EVs will be on the roadways in the next decade. CDE Lightband is helping to make sure that Tennessee is ready with charging infrastructure.
On May 11, CDE Lightband announced that it has installed four fast chargers at 701 Sango Rd. as part of Fast Charge TN, a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),
the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Seven States Power Corporation. This Fast Charge TN installation is part of the regional Fast Charge Network that will cover major travel corridors across TVA’s seven-state service area and will complement the broader efforts of the National Electric Highway Coalition, which seeks to enable long-distance EV travel by placing fast chargers along interstates and major highways throughout the United States.
“We moved quickly to participate in Fast Charge TN because we want to make it easy for people to choose EVs so our community can enjoy the environmental and economic benefits of electric transportation,” said Brian Taylor, general manager of CDE Lightband. “The funding from TVA and TDEC makes it possible to add fast chargers in our community by providing 80% of the project cost.”
“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 Deputy Commissioner Greg Young said. “TDEC is partnering with TVA and CDE Lightband 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.”
TVA and TDEC have brought together local power companies, state and local government partners, and others to pave the way for over 200,000 EVs on Tennessee Valley roads by 2028. The benefits that these EVs bring to the Tennessee Valley region are significant:
Attracting good jobs -- $13.8 billion in EV and battery manufacturing have helped create over 10,000 EV-related jobs.
Reducing carbon emissions from gasoline vehicles by almost 1 million metric tons per year or the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 1 million acres of US forests in one year.
Reinvesting $120 million in the local economy every year from electric refueling.
Saving drivers up to $1,000 in fuel and maintenance costs every year.
“TVA is partnering with local power companies like CDE Lightband and state agencies like TDEC to invest in charging infrastructure across the Tennessee Valley region because electric vehicles benefit everyone,” said Justin Maierhofer, TVA regional vice president. “These investments allow TVA to save drivers money and attract good jobs and tourism– all powered by electricity from TVA and your local power company.”
“Seven States is trusted by local power companies across the Tennessee Valley to deliver EV charging technology for their consumers,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “Impactful partnerships like this benefit the local community, regional economy and global environment for years to come.”
“This charging location does more than charge cars -- it connects Clarksville to the Fast Charge Network and plays an important role in putting our region on the leading edge of the new electric economy,” said Taylor.
The order of speakers for this ribbon-cutting ceremony included:
Brian Taylor - CDE Lightband, General Manager
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts
Mark Finlay - TDEC, Sr. Energy Analyst
Betsey Kirk McCall - Seven States Power Corp., President & CEO
Justin Maierfhofer - TVA, Regional Vice President, North Region
To learn more about the Fast Charge Network, calculate how much money an EV could save you or locate EV charging stations on your travel route, check out
https://energyright.com/ev/.
About CDE Lightband: CDE Lightband, the municipal electric and broadband power provider for the City of Clarksville, offers electric, television, internet and phone service to customers within the city limits. CDE Lightband serves over 80,000 metered homes and businesses with electric service and over 29,000 customers with broadband services over our Fiber to the Premise Network.
