Tennessee Valley Authority
Kentucky Legislature Honors TVA’s 75 Years of Service
The Kentucky General Assembly approved a resolution April 1 recognizing TVA’s 75th anniversary, which is being celebrated this year across the Tennessee Valley.
Eston Glover (left), president and CEO of Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, and Sen. Brett Guthrie (Senate District 32) present TVA Board Member and Bowling Green native Skila Harris (center) with a copy of a resolution passed by the Kentucky General Assembly to honor TVA’s 75th anniversary. They are standing in front of the 75th Anniversary Commemorative Quilt, which includes photos representing milestone events in the agency’s history.
A copy of the proposed resolution was presented to TVA Board Member and Bowling Green native Skila Harris during a reception held at the Capitol on Monday, March 31. Several state and local officials, representatives from TVA and distributors of TVA power attended the reception.
“We were honored to have Ms. Harris, a fellow Kentuckian and historic leader, with us yesterday,” said State Rep. Will Coursey on the House floor. “The Tennessee Valley Authority has been the primary economic driver in the western part of the Commonwealth for many years, and I am proud to be from the Tennessee Valley in Kentucky. I wish TVA many successful years in the future.”
During the reception, Harris, who has served on the TVA Board since 1999 as TVA’s first female director, outlined numerous energy, river and economic benefits that TVA provides to the people of Kentucky, in partnership with state and local stakeholders.
“By working together to meet Kentucky’s energy needs, we’re all doing our part to improve the quality of life of the people we serve and to strengthen the economic vitality of this great state,” Harris said. “TVA is proud of how it gives back to Kentucky.
“For example, our more than $37 million in tax-equivalent payments help support local education and other vital needs. I am confident that TVA and Kentucky will continue to grow and prosper together as we have for the past 75 years.”
TVA provides power to 19 local distributors that serve almost a quarter of a million households in 28 Kentucky counties. TVA also provides power directly to 14 large industries and federally owned installations in the state.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the TVA Act on May 18, 1933. It states that it is “an Act to improve the navigability and provide for the flood control of the Tennessee River; to provide for reforestation and the proper use of marginal lands in the Tennessee Valley; to provide for the agricultural and industrial development of said valley … and for other purposes.”
Seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations are planned at various locations throughout the Tennessee Valley, with the main celebration scheduled for May 19 in Muscle Shoals, Ala., following a TVA Board meeting.
