FedEx and other Business Leaders Share Their Experiences with State of Tennessee, Higher Education Partners and Energy Experts

Media Contact: Cortney Piper, [email protected]

KNOXVILLE, TN, April 13, 2021 — The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) brought business leaders, entrepreneurs, state government delegates and higher education partners together today for a discussion about the electric vehicle supply chain, advanced energy jobs and how to energize economic development in the Volunteer State.

“More than 18,000 advanced energy businesses have contributed nearly $40 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, but there is still much more that can be accomplished with ongoing discussion, collaboration and strategy,” TAEBC Executive Director Cortney Piper said. “Energizing the state’s economic development with cohesive advanced energy strategies will only increase our momentum and give Tennessee businesses a competitive advantage.”

Staff Vice President of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability Officer at FedEx, Mitch Jackson started off the business leader perspective of the program by sharing the delivery services electrification goals, which include investing more than $2 billion in vehicle electrification, sustainable energy and carbon sequestration.

Business leaders and entrepreneurs also heard from Chassen Haynes, Director of Business Development for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD); Dr. Claude Pressnell, Jr., President of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA); Dr. Flora Tydings, Chancellor for the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR); Matt Kisber, co-founder and Chairman of Silicon Ranch and TAEBC Board Member; and Van Tucker, President and CEO of LaunchTN.

TAEBC will host virtual business roundtables in each of the state’s three regions in 2021, with the next event on June 9 at 10:00 a.m. CT for businesses in Middle Tennessee and October 13 at 10:00 CT for East Tennessee. The Council will also host a Statewide Energy Incentives Webinar on August 13 at 10:00 a.m. CT.

For more information on these events and registration details, business leaders and other advanced energy partners can visit the TAEBC events page.

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. For more information, visit: https://tnadvancedenergy.com/