TVA lists its goals during celebration

TVA's environmental policy also sought to maintain its trifecta of electricity, environment and economic development through an environmentally sensitive lens.

The policy didn't outline any targets for renewable energy, which over a dozen states have recently passed.

"The real objective is to decrease our carbon footprint," said TVA CEO and President Tom Kilgore.

TVA's policy will seek to increase efficiency throughout the Valley, a significant challenge in an area that consumes the most energy per capita and has some of the cheapest energy rates in the United States.

With both increases in energy demand across the Valley and increased energy costs, TVA Chairman Bill Sansom said, "It's a celebration, but it's a challenge as we move forward."

Those challenges include increased construction costs as TVA seeks to get three nuclear reactors on board, a prolonged drought in the Valley that impacts nuclear and hydroelectric electricity generation, and environmental concerns about coal-fired and nuclear energy sources.

TVA's meeting wasn't all work, but included a 75th birthday party. Attendees sang "Happy Birthday" to the experimental agency that 75 years ago integrated electricity, environment and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.

Eleanor Harris, a guest of honor attending the celebration, grew up in Nebraska and knew Sen. George Norris - who spearheaded the creation of TVA - for 12 years in Congress.

"I'm probably the only one in the room who knew him," said Harris, who is 96 years old.

After studying music in New York City, Harris moved to a cotton farm in Opelika with no electricity.

"What a change in our lifestyle when we got electricity," Harris said. "I was so happy about it."

Though she lived outside of TVA's region, her family, like many in the Valley, benefited from rural electrification.

Harris moved back to Norris' hometown of McCook, Neb. a year after the senator died and became good friends with his wife, Ellie.

"She was my mentor," said Harris.

Now, the Norris home is on the federal historic registry. Four members of The Norris Foundation, which promotes Norris' legacy, flew in from Nebraska for the celebration.

Also in attendance were a dozen employees with 40-plus years at TVA. Joe Benedict started working for TVA in 1967.

"I got caught up in the mission, and I didn't think the mission was complete," Benedict said. Right out of college, he started as a civil engineer with the construction of Browns Ferry nuclear plant, became an environmental engineer and now manages methods and process at Bull Run Fossil Plant in Clinton, Tenn.

The celebration also included a near-roast of Skila Harris, TVA's 25th board member, whose nine-year term ended Monday.

"This has been a great moment for me, and it will be added to my fond memories at TVA," said Harris, the last remaining member from the agency's former three-member board. TVA restructured the board to include nine part-time members and a CEO in 2006.

During her tenure, Harris became known for championing environmentalism and conservation in the agency.

To honor her, TVA board members gave Harris a framed picture.

"This is Roosevelt signing the TVA Act," said Chairman Bill Sansom, who had ribbed Harris for her longevity on the board. Sansom then pointed at the picture, "And this is Skila standing right over here." Sure enough, digitally imposed into the historic black and white photo was Harris.

Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com