Energizing Tennessee

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Today, we’re releasing the TAEBC 2026 TVA Lunch and Learn recording for our listeners. During this special event, we talked to Mike Skaggs, interim president and CEO of TVA, and Heidi Smith, TVA’s vice president of economic development. 

We began our TVA Lunch and Learn series more than 7 years ago. Our goal was to connect our members directly with decision-makers at TVA, discuss timely topics and trends they’re seeing, and better understand TVA’s priorities and how the utility’s decisions affect the Valley. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• TVA’s role in supporting big economic development investments across the utility’s seven-state service region of the Tennessee Valley. 
• TVA’s 2026 Integrated Resource Plan
• Advanced nuclear and fusion projects, data centers, and "bring your own power"

You can also watch the full recording on YouTube. 

Plus...

Registration is NOW OPEN for Opportunities in Energy 2026! Get your tickets now.

Enjoy the episode. 

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To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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Today, we spoke with Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO and President of Orano USA. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• Orano’s Project IKE, a multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge. It’s one of America’s largest uranium enrichment developments for re-establishing a significant and reliable domestic nuclear energy fuel supply.
• How the company’s key relationships at the state and local government levels make Project Ike possible
• The importance of engaging with the Oak Ridge community 
• Jean-Luc's analysis of the fuel recycling process and its impact on the industry and our nation

Plus...

Registration is NOW OPEN for Opportunities in Energy 2026! 
Get your tickets now for Opportunities in Energy: https://www.tnadvancedenergy.com/event/2026-opportunities-in-energy/

Enjoy the show. 

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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If your company hasn’t tapped into the quantum computing resources here in Tennessee, or if you’re still wondering about how quantum and advanced energy work together, this episode is for you. 

Today, we’re speaking with EPB’s CEO, Janet Rehberg. EPB is the Chattanooga area’s local power company in the Tennessee Valley with a history of saying “YES” to new ideas and innovation. Janet started her career as an electrical engineer. After 20 years in the utility industry, she knows utilities have the power to unlock a community’s potential.

In this episode, we talk about: 

• How quantum computing could be the competitive advantage you've been looking for
• The EPB Quantum Center in Chattanooga, where businesses can explore real-world applications to their most pressing challenges, no matter the industry.
• EPB’s upcoming Quantum in Business Conference, happening October 1st at The Westin in Chattanooga. 

Reserve your spot for Quantum in Business: https://quantum.epb.com/qib26/

Learn more about EPB Quantum and the comprehensive resources for developing and commercializing quantum innovations in networking, computing, sensing and beyond. EPB Quantum also establishes Chattanooga as the first commercially available quantum computing and networking hub in the U.S., fostering a regional quantum ecosystem to create new jobs and attract additional business investment.

Enjoy the show. 

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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Today, we talk to Bill Tindal, Director of the Tennessee Nuclear Network (TN2)

TN2 is powered by ETEC, the East Tennessee Economic Council. It’s the state's official partnership - designated by Governor Bill Lee - to strengthen Tennessee’s position as a global hub for nuclear.

In this episode, we cover:

• Tennessee being chosen as a finalist for a nuclear lifecycle innovation campus - and what this could mean for our nuclear renaissance
• The importance of expanding partnerships and connecting companies to the resources they need here in Tennessee
• How TAEBC, ETEC, and TN2 support each other, and why that’s a key to success for our advanced energy economy

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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Advanced energy 🤝 economic development.

Today, we’re joined by Derrick Collins, Regional Economic Development Consultant for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

On this episode of Energizing Tennessee, we talk about:

• Major nuclear energy-related projects Derrick has taken the lead on, including with companies like Orano, TRISO-X, BWXT, Oklo, Radiant, and LIS Technologies
• Derrick’s insight into company recruitment strategies and job-creation initiatives
• How the TVA Workforce Invest Grant is preparing the next generation for the workforce, and providing additional economic development resources

Enjoy the episode!

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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Daniel Dassow, is a journalist who’s covered business, technology, and energy in East Tennessee for years. You may be familiar with Daniel’s bylines in the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Chattanooga Times Free Press. 

In this behind-the-headlines conversation, we talk about:

• How Daniel got his start as a business and energy reporter
• Chattanooga’s growing nuclear and quantum industries
• Other developing stories Daniel's following in 2026

Enjoy the episode!

Follow Daniel's work: https://www.timesfreepress.com/staff/daniel-dassow/

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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Today, we’re speaking with Nick de Vries, Chief Technology Officer at Silicon Ranch, about the instrumental connection between solar power, agriculture, and economic development. 

This Nashville solar development company grew into a billion-dollar powerhouse for a reason.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Silicon Ranch being named #5 on TIME America's Top GreenTech Companies of 2026
• The company's 2026 SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award for its CattleTracker system
• How this technology is closing the gap between the industries of solar power and agriculture

If you like what you hear, subscribe to our podcast and don’t forget to leave a rating or review. It helps us reach a wider audience to champion Tennessee’s Advanced Energy Business Sector. 

Enjoy the episode!

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

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Listen up, entrepreneurs! This is the episode is for you. 

Bill Malkes, Executive Director of the Spark Innovation Center and Spark Accelerator program at the University of Tennessee Research Park, and Lance Adler, Founder of Witching Hour and an alum of the Spark Accelerator, joined the show to talk about:

• How the Spark Accelerator is bringing more entrepreneurs and their businesses to Tennessee
• Lance's journey as an entrepreneur and why he chose East Tennessee to grow his business
• How Witching Hour's technology aims to stop forest fires before they start

But the best news? Applications are now OPEN for the next Spark Accelerator Cohort! Apply here: https://www.f6s.com/spark-accelerator-cohort-5/about.

Interested entrepreneurs must apply for this year's cohort by May 27, 2026.

For more information, visit https://www.tnresearchpark.org/spark/

To learn more about Witching Hour, visit https://www.witchinghour.io/ or follow the company on LinkedIn. 

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

Send us Fan Mail

We’re kicking off our new season today with a star-studded lineup of guests from TAEBC’s Annual Meeting…because it is the annual meeting! If you missed this event, fear not, we recorded the whole thing and are going to play an abridged, listener-friendly version here so you can get caught up. 

Episode Highlights:

• TAEBC’s new Power Infrastructure Solutions Working Group 
• A year-in-review of council activities and accomplishments
• A Q&A session with our new council board members
• Updates from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, TVA, and more!

If you like what you hear, subscribe to our podcast and don’t forget to leave a rating or review. It helps us reach a wider audience to champion Tennessee’s Advanced Energy Business Sector. 

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members. 

Send us Fan Mail

If you have ever wanted to learn about the nitty gritty of microgrid work, this episode is for you.

A few years ago, Middle Tennessee Electric partnered with Schneider Electric to build a microgrid at its Lebanon office. Today, host Cortney Piper dives into the details of the project with two Schneider Electric representatives: Ryan Egly, Senior Microgrid Solutions and Project Development Engineer and Daniel Gyampo, Microgrid Quality and Support Engineer. They discuss asset mix, site considerations, challenges, lessons learned and so much more. 

Learn more about TAEBC and Schneider Electric’s microgrid solutions. 

Support the show

To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.