Senator Lamar Alexander on Friday said the Senate confirmed four of President Trump’s nominees – including Jeff Smith of Tennessee – to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board of directors.
“I’m glad the Senate confirmed these nominations so the new board members can get to work at the nation’s largest public utility,” Senator Alexander said.“Each of these nominees understands that TVA must continue to provide cheap, clean, reliable electricity for homes and businesses throughout the seven-state Tennessee Valley region. I appreciate the president selecting such well-qualified nominees, and I look forward to working with them in the coming years.”
One of the four nominees confirmed was Tennessean Jeff Smith. Senator Alexander introduced Mr. Smith at his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in November, saying that because of his “expertise in nuclear energy, his background in management of a large facility and his understanding of large construction projects, he will make an excellent TVA board member.” President Trump announced Mr. Smith’s nomination in September.
Senator Alexander and Senator Bob Corker recommended Mr. Smith, who is the deputy lab director for Operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, because of his background in nuclear energy. Oak Ridge National Laboratory employs nearly 5,000 people and has a budget of $1.4 billion. Mr. Smith, who is a resident of East Tennessee, will bring his experience to the nation’s largest public utility which has an annual budget of over $10 billion and employs more than 10,000 people.
Senator Corker said, “With over nine million customers, TVA is the largest public power utility in the nation, and it is critical for the Tennessee Valley that it remains a low-cost, reliable producer of electricity, not only for ratepayers but also for our state’s business recruitment efforts. The diverse backgrounds of these nominees give them the necessary qualifications to support TVA’s important mission, and I am pleased the Senate has acted swiftly to confirm them.”
Last month, Senator Corker introduced Mr. Smith at a Senate Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee hearing on his nomination, saying, “I am confident that Jeff understands the needs of the Tennessee Valley and believe he will bring valuable experience to the TVA board.”
Kenneth E. Allen of Kentucky, James R. Thompson III of Alabama, and A.D. Frazier of Georgia were also confirmed to serve on the TVA board.