Two pieces of proposed federal legislation could soon force the Tennessee Valley Authority to be more transparent in its meeting practices and salary reporting.
The aptly named Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act unanimously passed the U.S. House on June 9. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District is sponsoring legislation that would require the TVA’s board of directors to hold open-door public meetings at least four times a year. It would also require the board to provide public notice at least seven days before a meeting, excluding those designated as emergencies. The bill notes exceptions for litigation, personnel matters and other business that “would compromise TVA’s competitiveness,” according to a press release from Burchett.
TVA is federally owned and the largest public power supplier in the U.S., providing electricity to more than 10 million people across Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The agency also manages navigation and flood control for the Tennessee River.
“This bill will help restore the public’s trust in the Tennessee Valley Authority,” says Burchett in a press release following the bill’s passage in the House. “TVA serves dozens of congressional districts across seven different states. It is time to give residents, businesses and Congress information on the actions by TVA.”
Officials with TVA say they are already following public meeting laws.
“Transparency and collaboration are priorities at TVA,” reads a statement from the authority. “As a federal agency, TVA follows all transparency requirements laid out in applicable federal statutes, including those established by the TVA Act. TVA also voluntarily provides a number of opportunities for stakeholder input. We welcome ideas on how we can further expand these efforts as we work to provide best-in-class service to our communities.”
Just four of nine seats are filled, leaving Nashville’s powerful energy suppliers constrained by law
TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks says the board currently holds quarterly meetings, rotating its location across the multistate region that the authority covers. Brooks says meeting agendas are released to the public a week before each board meeting, and meetings are livestreamed on the TVA website.
While TVA does hold private board committee meetings, Brooks says no decisions are made in these, and a quorum of the board of directors is not present. He says private meetings often include confidential, sensitive information on issues relating to cybersecurity and nuclear safety.
The TVA Transparency Act was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for consideration. The bill is co-sponsored by Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District and Democratic Rep. Susie Lee of Nevada.
Burchett and Cohen also co-sponsored the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act, which passed the House in January. The bill would require the TVA to report the salaries of its employees who make more than $123,041. Previously, the agency had been disclosing only the salaries of its top executives. Tennessee’s Republican U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty introduced the salary bill in the Senate in April, and it was referred to the Environment and Public Works Committee.
In addition to receiving criticism from Tennessee lawmakers, the TVA board has also been the subject of several firings by President Donald Trump, who has removed three of its members since March. The board requires at least five members to be able to take action. It currently holds three. Members must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
TVA has said it is phasing out the use of its coal plants, including a plan to retire its coal fleet by 2035. But comments from the agency’s new CEO Don Moul indicate that the reliance on coal could be extended, according to a report from WPLN.
The agency has faced continued pushback from environmental advocates for its use of natural gas power instead of renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
