Contact: Peyton Mills, peyton@piper-communications.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) held its 2025 Annual Meeting, March 5 at the Schneider Electric Nashville Hub, bringing together members and industry leaders to celebrate the state’s expanding advanced energy economy.
Kicking off the annual meeting, Angela Chan, Head of Operations of Transformation and Culture, Operations & AI Team, North America Schneider Electric and TAEBC board secretary, welcomed more than 100 attendees to Schneider Electric’s Nashville Hub. Robert Nathan, Government Relations Manager, North America Schneider Electric, provided an update on Schneider Electric’s Tennessee-based investments. Cortney Piper, Executive Director of TAEBC, presented highlights from member companies, recapped TAEBC’s 2024 accomplishments, and announced new goals and priorities for 2025.
“Tennessee’s advanced energy sector had a tremendous year in 2024 and TAEBC was there to seize every opportunity to champion our state’s contributions to American innovation and economic development,” said Piper. “TAEBC was a member of TVA’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan Working Group, supported more than 30 energy entrepreneurs, released our fourth “Advanced Energy Economic Impact Report,” welcomed 15 new members and hosted over 500 participants at our annual events.”
“Looking ahead to 2025, TAEBC anticipates significant progress in advanced energy projects and technology-based economic development,” she added. “With a new national energy agenda on the horizon, I am confident that Tennessee will continue to lead the nation.”
The program featured several panels and presentations from advanced energy leaders across the state.
Panelists, including Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council members, explored the future of nuclear energy innovation and investment in Tennessee, emphasizing the need for speed to market, a strong supply chain, enhanced workforce development, and strategic coalition building. The panel included Brandon Gibson, Chief Operating Officer, Tennessee Governor’s Office; Jeff Smith, Vice President for National Labs, University of Tennessee System; and Braden Stover, Chief Policy Officer, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The panel was moderated by Tracy Boatner, President of the East Tennessee Economic Council.
Sean Oehlbert, Vice President of Corporate Business Strategy, Centrus Energy Corp., took the stage to highlight the company’s efforts to restore America’s domestic uranium enrichment capacity. Oehlbert underscored their commitment to serving as the trusted nuclear fuel supplier for utilities worldwide and their long-standing role as a national security partner to the U.S. government. In 2023, Centrus achieved a major milestone by launching the first NRC-licensed production of High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), marking the first U.S.-owned uranium enrichment facility to start production in 70 years. A recently announced $60 million investment in November 2024 will restart centrifuge manufacturing and expand capacity at the company’s Oak Ridge facility.
Sarah Eason, Senior Washington Representative, Government Relations, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), provided insight into federal priorities for 2025, offering a forecast of what’s ahead. She discussed President Trump’s priorities, including his efforts to make energy more affordable and position America as a global energy leader through a series of executive orders. These initiatives include unleashing American energy production and establishing the National Energy Dominance Council. Eason also outlined the congressional action timeline and explained the implications of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which sets federal discretionary spending caps for FY24 and FY25.
Molly Cripps, Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, was featured in the TAEBC member spotlight section of the program. The Office of Energy Programs supports the effective and efficient use of energy to improve the state’s environmental and economic well-being. Cripps highlighted the impact of the Fast Charge Network and upcoming programs. For example, a program to replace older diesel class 4-8 vehicles with new alternative fuel vehicles, rebates to multifamily housing development owners to install Level 2 EV charging stations for residents and round two of the Fast Charge TN Network grant program. To conclude, she shared upcoming opportunities for attendees to engage further, including the Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo and Drive Electric Tennessee Momentum Summit.
Marianne Dunavant, Community Relations Manager, Ford BlueOval City; Matt Marshall, President and CEO, United Way West Tennessee; and James Farmer, Director of Workplace Development, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson participated in a panel discussion on how Ford’s BlueOval City is reshaping opportunities for West Tennesseans. Moderated by Cortney Piper, the conversation explored how Ford is collecting and analyzing community feedback to invest in community infrastructure like education, community centers, workforce development and childcare through the Ford Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee.
To conclude TAEBC’s 2025 Annual Meeting, Steve Seifried, Tennessee Account Executive, Ameresco, and former TAEBC President, welcomed Robert Hardin, Ph.D., Senior Quality Manager, WACKER, as the newly appointed president of TAEBC.
TAEBC continues to foster collaboration while advancing energy innovation and economic growth in Tennessee. Join us for our fall 2025 event, Opportunities in Energy on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Downtown University in Knoxville, Tennessee, to engage with industry leaders and explore the future of energy.
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.
About Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council
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/.