U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led a hearing in Washington, D.C., to consider four nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors. The nominees are Mitch Graves, Jeff Hagood, Randall Jones, and Arthur Graham.
During her opening statement, Capito highlighted the importance of filling vacancies on the TVA Board. She said, “Today we’re going to hear from four nominees, Mitch Graves, Jeff Hagood, Randy Jones, and Art Graham to serve as members of the TVA’s Board of Directors, and it is well past time that we’ve had this hearing and started to fill up the Board of Directors with great talent. I look forward to learning more about each one of your goals and priorities today.”
Capito provided background on the TVA, noting its creation in 1933 as a federally owned public utility serving seven Southeastern states. She outlined TVA’s three main roles: supplying electricity, managing the Tennessee River system, and supporting economic development. “If confirmed, the nominees before us will be required to support and uphold each of these fundamental responsibilities of TVA, which have served the people of the Tennessee Valley very well for decades. In particular, I have seen the positive impacts of TVA’s economic development efforts in the Appalachia region and hope the nominees will continue to prioritize those activities,” Capito said.
She emphasized TVA’s role as the third largest electricity generator in the U.S., serving over 10 million people and 800,000 businesses through partnerships with 153 local power companies. Capito also addressed the challenge of meeting projected energy demand increases in the Tennessee Valley over the next decade, which could require up to an 80 percent increase in power generation capacity.
Capito explained that a quorum is needed on the TVA Board to make key decisions. “Without a quorum, TVA is currently unable to conduct the full range of business necessary to support the people of the Tennessee Valley. Confirming these nominees to the Board will enable TVA to move forward with planning new power generation capacity, approving large power load applications to support economic development, and other important actions like approving the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan,” she said.
The nominees bring varied backgrounds. Graves is CEO of West Cancer Center and has served on the board of Memphis Light, Gas, and Water. Hagood is an attorney with experience in business sectors including legal, athletics, real estate, and agriculture. Jones is an insurance agency owner and serves on the City of Guntersville Electric Board in Alabama. Graham is a chemical engineer with experience as a member and chair of the Florida Public Service Commission and as a board member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
Capito concluded, “The diverse backgrounds and experiences these nominees would bring to the Board will position TVA to make effective long-term decisions. I look forward to hearing more about each nominee’s priorities for the Board and how they would work to have a positive impact for the people of the Tennessee Valley.”
