Conservation head, 2 others endorsed for TVA post

Conservation head, 2 others
endorsed for TVA post

by LAURA SIMMONS
News-Sentinel staff writer

Tennessee's conservation commissioner and two other candidates were endorsed Wednesday for the vacant TVA board seat by a coalition of 43 regional public interest groups.

Besides state Conservation Commissioner Charles Howell III, the coalition endorsed William Chandler, a senior research analyst at the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, D.C., and Robert Potts, general counsel for the University of Alabama.

Chandler, who criticized TVA's regional development policies in his book, "The Myth of TVA," has received the backing of TVA critic Sen. Gordon Humphey, R-N.H. Potts was recommended for the post by Sen. Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala.

The coalition opposes the appointment of Darlene Scoggins, also recommended by Denton.

The vacancy on the three-member TVA board was created last February when TVA Director Richard Freeman abruptly resigned. His term expires in May, 1987.

"In fact, this appointment process is about the only chance Tennessee Valley citizens currently have to attempt to bring meaningful accountability to TVA policy making and agency direction," coalition leaders Mark Thompson and Jim Price wrote in a letter to Robert Tuttle, director of White House personnel.

Thompson represents the Tennessee Valley Energy Coalition, and Price is the Southeastern field representative for the Sierra Club.

Coalition officials interviewed potential candidates named by the media and sent ballots and interview summaries to representatives of all 43 member organizations in the seven TVA states.

A consensus vote of 75 percent to endorse or oppose was required before the coalition took a formal position on a candidate, Price and Thompson said.

"In his interview, Howell voiced a strong commitment to energy conservation," they wrote. "Howell takes a long-term view in looking toward and preparing for the future and could add a helpful perspective in guiding TVA through its current nuclear program crisis."

"He has personal ideas on the role of grassroots citizens in long-term planning for TVA, and the Tennessee Department of Conservation under his direction has a strong reputation for dealing with citizens groups."

Of Chandler, the coalition said, "He has studied and written extensively in areas related to energy and technology and exhibited a familiarity with innovative programs that have successfully addressed utility problems in other parts of the country."

"While open to the continued development of solar technologies, Potts was clearly committed to getting the nuclear program back on track," the letter said.

The coalition opposed the appointment of Scoggins, assistant director of the Alabama Development Office, based on an interview in 1984.