Tennessee senators: TVA leaders unfit for nuclear revival

By Francisco "A.J." Camacho · E&E Daily

In this mention

Tennessee Republican senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty have called on the Trump administration to replace TVA leadership, arguing current management is hindering deployment of small modular nuclear reactors. The senators published an op-ed in POWER Magazine accusing TVA of "paralysis by analysis" and calling for a new interim CEO to lead a "nuclear energy revival." The article raises concerns about the public utility's statutory independence.

Read the full article at E&E Daily

Original clipping

PDF didn't open? Open it in a new tab →

Tennessee senators: TVA leaders unfit for nuclear revival

By [Francisco "A.J." Camacho](https://www.eenews.net/meet-the-team/francisco-a-j-camacho/ "Francisco \"A.J.\" Camacho") | 03/26/2025 06:42 AM EDT

Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty want President Donald Trump to appoint an interim CEO to the public utility.

Tennessee's Republican senators have called on the Trump administration to replace the leadership of the Tennessee Valley Authority, prompting concerns over the public utility's statutory independence.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty penned an unusually pointed op-ed last week in POWER Magazine that accuses TVA's top brass of succumbing to "paralysis by analysis," bogging down the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs.

The solution, they say: a new interim CEO appointed by President Donald Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to help lead a "nuclear energy revival."

"TVA must embrace bold action, not bureaucratic hesitation," the senators wrote. "It's time to put people in charge who are up to the task."