Smithville Electric System awarded grant for EV fast chargers

July 30, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has announced that Smithville Electric System is one of 12 entities receiving a share of $5.2 million in total grant funding to install direct current fast charging (DCFC) infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) along prioritized interstate or major highway corridors across the state.

The 12 projects will involve the installation of 32 total charging units at 13 sites. The program is part of a partnership between TDEC and TVA to develop a statewide EV fast-charging network along Tennessee’s interstates and major highways to power the growth of EVs across the state.

Smithville’s first ever Level 2 electric vehicle charging station was installed in November, 2020 and is located at the city parking lot across from Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. “This particular charger is a 7 kilowatt charger so that means you get 7 kilowatt hours each hour you use it and how long it takes to recharge depends on the size of the battery in your car and how empty or full that battery is. For example, if you have a 60 kilowatt hour battery and you are half way depleted that means you need 30 kilowatt hours so it will take you a little over 4 hours to put 30 kilowatt hours back into the vehicle,” said Brad Rains, Director of DER Deployments with the Chattanooga based Seven States Power Corporation, who was in Smithville in November 2020 for the installation of the Level 2 EV charging station.

In addition to the these projects, TVA anticipates funding 21 projects in Tennessee, which will include the installation of 56 total charging units at 27 sites. This investment is part of TVA’s broader Fast Charge Network that aims to reduce barriers to EV adoption by deploying fast chargers at least every 50 miles along the interstates and major highways across its 7-state service territory by 2026.

The competitive grant program comprises the state’s fourth solicitation for projects under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT). The purpose of the EMT is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Of the funded charging infrastructure, 10 chargers at three sites will be installed in former nonattainment areas for ozone and/or fine particulates (PM2.5) under National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

“We are glad we can put these funds to use in ways that serve all motorists with electric vehicles,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “We are rapidly moving toward more electric vehicles on our roads, and this is a way to stay ahead of that demand.”

“Electrification of transportation is critical to help our nation achieve its energy security and decarbonization goals,” said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and chief executive officer. “Today, thanks to Governor Lee and TDEC, our region is the nation’s epicenter for EV technology and manufacturing, and this grant demonstrates how we can move the Tennessee Valley further and faster, together, to make a cleaner future a reality.”

The program will complement the state’s use of its allocated funds under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The NEVI Formula Program aims to build out fast charging infrastructure along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, which in Tennessee includes all of the two-digit interstate highways and the majority of U.S.-64.

TDEC is the lead agency for administering the state’s VW Settlement EMT allocation. Announcements on future funding programs under the EMT will be shared by the department.

July 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Circuit Court Judge Jonathan Young of Cookeville has been suspended for the remainder of his term after the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct issued an order Tuesday detailing multiple complaints against him including one in which he allegedly had sex with a woman who was a party in an adoption case before his court.

(Read more at link below)

Order of Suspension (pdf)

This is the second time Young has been suspended by the board for improper conduct. Almost two years ago Judge Young received a public reprimand from the Board of Judicial Conduct and was suspended for 30 days for inappropriate messages he sent to women on various social media platforms from 2015 to 2020 which included content ranging from flirtatious to overtly sexual.

Again, the Board has handed down a 30-day suspension effective August 2 keeping him from holding court for the remainder of his term which ends August 31, 2022. Young was defeated in the Republican Primary in May by Caroline Knight who will become the next judge as she is unopposed in the General Election next Thursday.

Judge Young has served the last eight years as Circuit Court Judge Part II in the 13th Judicial District representing DeKalb and six other counties.

Order of Suspension (pdf)

July 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The election is not until next Thursday, August 4 but Tom Cook has already punched his ticket to the November General Election as he will be the Democratic nominee for State Representative in District 40.

Cook, a resident of the Silver Point community of DeKalb County, is unopposed for the office in the Tennessee Democratic Primary. He will face the Republican nominee, either Incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver or Michael Hale in November. The term of office is two years.

Cook, who has lived in DeKalb County for the last four years, said he decided to get into this race after being contacted by the Democratic Party. “I was notified by the party and they asked if I was interested in becoming a candidate. I hadn’t really thought about it before then. Once I was asked to become involved I thought I would have a lot to offer. It’s a great opportunity to try and offer what I think is important with regard to change in the five counties that make up District 40,” said Cook.

A native of New Jersey, Cook furthered his education in Chicago, Saint Louis, and Nashville and made a career in healthcare as a nurse practitioner before retirement.

“I left home right after high school and went to Loyola University in Chicago for my bachelor’s degree. I went to Saint Louis University in Missouri for my master’s degree in nursing and finally finished my final degree which is a PhD which I got from Vanderbilt University. I have worked as a nurse for my whole life and retired as a nurse practitioner. I worked at Vanderbilt University for almost 40 years,” said Cook.

Some of the issues Cook said he is passionate about include healthcare, abortion rights, and more gun laws among others.

“I think rural health is a hugely important issue in all of the counties that I am running in and in the state. There are 16 hospitals that have closed since 2010 in rural areas of Tennessee. That is the second highest number of hospital closings in the country. I would like to help people take advantage of health opportunities that are out there and for them to live long and healthy lives,” said Cook.

As for guns, Cook said there should be more restrictions. “I am not interested in taking away guns except for assault weapons. We don’t need assault weapons to kill deer. Often the alternative for some seems to be that we have to focus more on mental health but in the murders that have taken place in schools where children are killed and in churches where parishioners are killed finding out about mental health after the fact has not been a useful kind of thing. I think we need more mental health opportunities to help people become their best selves, but I am also interested in gun safety. I think people need to be as interested in where they put guns and the access their children have to guns,” Cook continued.

“Other things I am interested in include serving veterans and active military personnel. I am also interested in supporting everyone who calls Tennessee home. That is the framework I come from”.

Cook said he discovered DeKalb County four years ago after deciding to relocate from Nashville to a more rural area. “ I lived in Nashville and had an opportunity with prices that went up for selling in Nashville to take advantage of that and then move to a more rural setting which I was glad to do and I am glad that I have. I love it here,” he said.

Cook, who is gay, is married and has an adopted son. “I am married and I adopted a child who is now 33 years old. I don’t have a wife. I have a husband and I am very proud of that,” said Cook.

Although a political newcomer to DeKalb County, Cook said he has held public office before.

“When I lived in rural Pennsylvania, I ran for the local school board and was not elected the first time that I ran. The second time I ran I was elected, and I was glad to be on the school board,” said Cook.

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