Date: March 15, 2023
Amid unprecedented growth in Tennessee, lawmakers are seeking solutions to outdated infrastructure, reports WKRN.
Governor Bill Lee announced in his annual State of the State address he’s recommending over $3 billion extra to fund TDOT’s road project. Part of that project includes lanes for which people can pay to use and potentially bypass traffic. Although there has some been contention over whether to call these “toll roads” or “choice lanes,” the general idea of expanding the state’s infrastructure has bipartisan support.
It currently takes more than 15 years to finish a road project. Tennessee leadership is aiming to bring that down to five. Lee’s proposal allocates $750 million dollars for each of the four TDOT regions across the state. Read more.
Date: March 15, 2023
Tennessee needs at least $62.9 billion worth of public infrastructure improvements during the five-year period of July 2021 to June 2026—a $1.2 billion (2.0%) increase from the year before—according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR).
Infrastructure needs for Transportation and Utilities increased for the seventh year in a row ($750 million) and continues to be the largest category in the inventory, with $35.2 billion in total needs (56.1% of the inventory). Read more.
Date: March 15, 2023
According to WATE-TV in Knoxville, 600 female high school students from across East Tennessee were in Oak Ridge to learn more about careers in STEM.
The students came from 18 schools to participate in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The goal of the day was to “inspire girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math,” according to a release from Consolidated Nuclear Security. It expands Consolidated Nuclear Security’s relationships with area schools to develop its future workforce. Kristin Waldschlager, a CNS educational outreach specialist, said teaching students about STEM-related opportunities is “crucial” for Y-12.
“We have a sense of responsibility to make sure we support the development and growth of future scientists and engineers who could be working here,” said Waldschlager.
Read more.
Date: February 14, 2023
Stephen Craven, Ph.D., P.E.,was named a top 10 finalist for NSPE’s Federal Engineer of the Year Award. He serves as an electrical engineer, networks/WAN specialist at the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Craven and the other finalists will be recognized during a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on February 24.
The Federal Engineer of the Year Award honors engineers employed by a federal agency that employs at least 50 engineers worldwide. These nominees have made extensive contributions to their organizations and also to the public that PEs ultimately serve.
Date: February 14, 2023
Tennessee’s list of infrastructure projects needed to support transportation, education, and public safety grew for the seventh consecutive year, according to a new report from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
The price tag for all of the state’s needs has reached $62.9 billion. That’s a more than $1 billion increase over last year’s total, which officials say is driven in part by inflation. Why it matters: The report underscores the urgent need for better roads and bridges as the state’s population continues to soar.
Governor Bill Lee has made infrastructure improvements a top legislative priority this year, with his administration looking for new ways to fund road projects. Read more from Axios.
Date: February 14, 2023
According to News Channel 5 Nashville, if you’ve been to downtown Nashville, you’ve likely traveled over the Broadway Bridge.
It spans 700 feet, going over 11th Avenue and the railyard in the Gulch, next to the historic Union Station Hotel and the new Nashville Yards development. The bridge has seen everything from horses and buggies to streetcars to modern-day commuters.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation says it’s time for the bridge to be replaced. But the design for Nashville’s signature street has sparked controversy.
Read more.
Date: January 18, 2023
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recently announced that $125,954,007 from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund will be administered through 24 grants for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects.
The recent grants follow the announcement of 18 grants totaling $72,496,030 from the ARP fund in August and October, bringing the total awarded by TDEC year-to-date to $198,450,037, according to a news release. This month’s grants include two collaborative grants and 22 non-collaborative grants to execute drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure planning, design, and construction projects.
Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee.
“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs throughout our state, especially those among disadvantaged communities,” Governor Bill Lee said. “We look forward to the improvements the projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.” Read more.
Date: January 18, 2023
Wind power accounts for nearly half of all renewable energy in the US, and virtually all of it comes from outside the Southeast. It doesn’t have to, though, according to WPLN News.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, for example, has 0.025 gigawatts of wind in Tennessee. That is less than what’s needed to power Vanderbilt University, and the federal utility does not currently have plans for any additional wind development.
Tennessee could, however, make wind its dominant source of power, according to data analysis by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL).
“If communities and wind developers were to follow best management practices, Tennessee would have 73 gigawatts of potential,” said Anthony Lopez, a senior researcher at NREL who leads their research on renewable potential in the US.
Read more.
Date: December 15, 2022
The Biden Administration recently updated state and territory fact sheets that highlight the nationwide impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the largest long-term investment infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. To date, over $3.6 billion in funding has been announced and is headed to Tennessee with over 115 specific projects identified for funding. Access information about Tennessee projects here.
Date: December 15, 2022
The Tennessee Department of Education has awarded $800,000 in grant to 34 districts for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, middle school career and technical education (CTE), and high school school-based enterprise projects.
Funding is provided through Governor Lee’s Future Workforce Initiative, which boosts access to CTE, STEM, and Work-Based Learning (WBL) in the classroom. For the past two years, the department awarded start-up and expansion funding for middle school STEM and CTE programs and included a high school opportunity to qualify for school-based enterprise funding to increase enrollment in WBL courses.
“Tennessee continues to provide more pathways to help students transition from middle to high school, and these grants help ensure students have increased access to high-quality work-based learning opportunities, STEM, and career technical education,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “We are thrilled that we can make these opportunities happen over the last two years and help students be successful during high school and into their postsecondary and workforce careers.”
Read more.
Date: November 17, 2022
Tennessee's "right-to-work" law, which has been in effect for 75 years, has been added to the state's constitution after a vote on November 8. This makes it more difficult for the law to be overturned, according to governing.com.
The move was opposed by labor unions and supported by some business leaders and Governor Bill Lee. The law states workers cannot be compelled to join unions as a requirement of their jobs. Bradley Jackson, president of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it makes Tennessee more business friendly.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7% of engineers in the US were represented by unions; 5.9% were members in 2021. Read more.
Date: November 17, 2022
Hitachi Zosen Inova USA LLC (HZI USA) recently announced that the company will invest $6.6 million to expand operations at its Knoxville, Tennessee, North American headquarters, according to a news release.
HZI USA, which relocated its North American hub from Georgia to Tennessee in 2020, will create 90 new jobs in Knox County. The additional jobs will support the company's engineering, procurement and construction projects, as well as its project developments, allowing the company to broaden its footprint and more than triple the number of employees at its Tennessee operations.
Hitachi Zosen Inova is the Swiss-based renewable energy arm of Japan's Hitachi Zosen Corporation. HZI's US operations specialize in converting municipal and agriculture waste into clean, renewable electricity, natural gas, and hydrogen. Through the expansion, Hitachi Zosen will employ nearly 12,000 worldwide.
Read more.
Date: October 20, 2022
Ford Motor Company has broken ground at BlueOval City, which the company calls its largest, most advanced auto production complex in Ford’s 119-year history.
Structural steel was erected on the site less than one year after Ford and SK On, a global EV battery manufacturer, announced their $5.6 billion investment to build electric batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles in West Tennessee. The nearly 6-square-mile mega campus will create approximately 6,000 new jobs when production begins in 2025.
With construction underway at BlueOval City, Ford – America’s No. 2 electric vehicle brand – gets closer to its target of a 2 million EV production run rate globally by late 2026. Read more.
Date: October 20, 2022
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation recently announced 12 grants totaling more than $34.5 million from the state’s American Rescue Plan fund, part of which the agency is administering in the form of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants.
“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs across our state, especially in disadvantaged communities,” Governor Bill Lee commented. “We commend communities who have gone through the application process, and we look forward to the substantial improvements the grants will bring.”
The funds will be used, among other things, to address water loss and distribution challenges, for stormwater improvement projects, conservation and improved supply management, limiting overflows, and repairing aging water infrastructure in various communities across the state.
Find out more.
Date: September 21, 2022
The Tennessee Legislature passed a law that provides additional pathways for an individual to qualify to become a professional licensed engineer. The law (S.B. 2479), which also updates qualifications to become a licensed landscape architect, became effective on July 1.
The first pathway requires that a licensure applicant be a graduate of a four-year curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree (approved by the board) and must complete post-graduate coursework leading to a master’s degree or higher in engineering (approved by the board). The candidate must also pass the FE and PE exams and have a minimum eight years of experience.
The second pathway allows an individual to apply for licensure if they have graduated from an ABET/ETAC-accredited four-year engineering technology program (approved by the board), hold a postgraduate degree in engineering from an institution with an ABET/EAC-accredited undergraduate engineering program (approved by the board), have a minimum eight years of experience, and have passed the FE and PE exams. Read more.
Date: September 21, 2022
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter announced the state will award more than $446 million in grants for the expansion of internet access across the state.
In total, the broadband infrastructure grants will provide broadband access to more than 150,000 unserved homes and businesses across 58 counties.
According to a 2020 Federal Communications Commission report, one in six rural Tennesseans lacks access to broadband. Since 2018, TNECD has awarded nearly $120 million in broadband grants through state and federal funding to serve more than 140,000 Tennessee households.
"To achieve economic growth and prosperity, it's imperative that Tennessee's communities have the proper infrastructure in place," McWhorter said.
Date: September 21, 2022
Six water infrastructure grants will provide much-needed upgrades to existing system components in as many counties in Tennessee. The grants are part of $3.7 billion American Rescue Plan funds sent to the state, according to the Cheatham County Exchange. $1.32 billion was designated for waterworks projects.
"We continue experiencing considerable growth across the state, and many of our communities require additional resources to address their evolving needs," Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton was quoted.
The grants went to Greene County, Johnson County, Unicoi County, Warren County, Mountain City, and Clarksville.
Date: August 17, 2022
Thanks to a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority, Origis Energy, and Excelsior Energy Capital, construction has started on the Skyhawk Solar project — a 100-MW solar facility in Obion County. The solar project will supply carbon-free energy to Google’s hyperscale data centers in Clarksville, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama.
Skyhawk Solar was developed through TVA’s Green Invest, a utility-scale solar solution that offers business and industry an effective, timely, and cost-competitive solar solution to aggressively meet sustainability goals. The program matches customer-driven commitments for renewable energy with new utility-scale solar facilities to be constructed in the Tennessee Valley.
“TVA has the cleanest power system in the southeast and we are helping attract sustainability-focused companies that bring jobs and investments to this region,” said Doug Perry, senior VP of TVA Commercial Energy Solutions. Read more.
Date: August 17, 2022
Tennessee Tech recently held an engineering and computer camp for high schoolers, actionnews5 reports. The camp, geared toward future engineers, helps familiarize the young students with the world of engineering and the many disciplines available to those in the field.
At the camp, students learn from professors at Tennessee Tech from many different departments including chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing and engineering technology, and mechanical engineering.
One engineering student at the college credits the camp with enticing them to major in the field.
Date: July 20, 2022
The US Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration is investing $4.1 million in the City of Pigeon Forge to support the recovery and growth of the local tourism economy via infrastructure improvements and resiliency measures. These grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan.
A $3.3 million grant will be spent on transportation infrastructure improvements in the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and on US 411 in Sevier County, to allow increased capacity for visitors traveling to the region's recreational attractions and special events. The EDA investment will be matched with $2 million in local funds.
Another $774,600 grant for Pigeon Forge will support development of a regional recovery strategy to plan resilience to future economic shocks. The EDA investment will be matched with $1.5 million in state and local funds. Read more.
Date: July 20, 2022
Recently released data from the Department of Defense show high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) found in drinking water near military bases, including in Tennessee, waterworld.com reports. The EPA says no level of the toxic, cancer-causing chemicals are considered safe for human consumption.
The chemicals were found in groundwater near 400 military installations in 18 other states, as well.
In June, the EPA issued four drinking water health advisories relating to PFAs. To help combat PFAS pollution, it has also invited states to apply for part of $1 billion in funding to address contaminants in drinking water, specifically in small or disadvantaged communities. An additional $4 billion will ultimately be available for this purpose as part of infrastructure law grant funding.
Date: June 18, 2022
A new $22 million Battery Engineering Lab in Chattanooga will be Volkswagen of America’s flagship facility for battery expertise. Opened earlier this month, the 32,000 square foot facility will enable Volkswagen to gain a competitive edge in the push to electric mobility, the company stated in a news release.
The company’s engineering group in Chattanooga consists of more than 100 engineers in various roles. They are focused on sustainability; when batteries are discharged during testing, the energy produced will be transferred back into the building, and local public grid and scrapped materials will be recycled.
Building the Battery Engineering Lab from the ground up allowed Volkswagen to install highly specialized equipment, such as the electrical Multi-Axial Shaker Table. The machine allows for extreme vibration tests to simulate one average year of driving (15,000 km or about 9,321 mi) in just one week.
Date: June 18, 2022
About 80 Tennessee school districts were selected by the Environmental Protection Agency as having priority for “clean” school bus funding, WPLN reports. Prioritized school districts were identified as high-need, low-income, and rural.
The funding will help districts replace older, heavily polluting buses with new ones that use greener technology. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said this “will result in healthier air for many of the 25 million American children who rely on school buses, many of whom live in overburdened and underserved communities.”
Read more.
Date: May 18, 2022
This year's state budget includes $11 million for a new general aviation airport in Oak Ridge, which could help draw industry to the area, according to the Oak Ridger.
"Oak Ridge is becoming a center for innovation, and the new airport will connect it with the rest of the country and support the economic growth of the region," a news release from the Tennessee Republican Caucus stated.
The airport will be located at the East Tennessee Technology Park, a 1,300-acre industrial site at the former K-25 site and near Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
"…companies are locating at ETTP and investing millions of dollars in advanced energy research and development as well as medical isotope production," the news release stated. A medical isotope company, Coquí Pharma has expressed interest in the ETTP site.
The airport would not have commercial flights. In total, the project is expected to cost about $55 million and is relying on funding from various sources. An environmental assessment and preliminary engineering study is in its beginning stages, and the airport is slated to open in 2025.
Date: May 18, 2022
The Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public power provider, released its Fiscal Year 2021 Sustainability Report sharing the agency's comprehensive efforts to be a national leader in environmental, social and governance initiatives as it creates a more sustainable future across seven states.
"Sustainability is deeply rooted in TVA's culture, and it's our cornerstone as we deliver innovative solutions that are transforming our seven-state region and beyond," said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO.
Through solar energy, transportation electrification, advanced nuclear technology and energy justice efforts, TVA says it uses sustainability as a competitive advantage to attract jobs and investment. The agency's mission is to position itself and the communities it serves as sustainability leaders as the nation drives toward net-zero emissions.
Date: April 19, 2022
The Tennessee National Guard's Construction and Facilities Management Office Environmental Program was awarded an Environmental Stewardship Trophy for best overall environmental program.
The award goes to the state or territory with the highest overall score in cleanup, conservation, energy, and construction by the National Guard Bureau's Installations and Environment Directorate. Tennessee achieved the maximum allotted score in conservation, in addition to high scores in the other sections.
Conservation and compliance is crucial to the National Guard's environmental responsibilities. The Department of Defense owns 8.8 million acres of land in the United States, with 13,790 acres managed by the Tennessee National Guard. Land conservation is vital to the future force readiness, the agency says.
Date: April 19, 2022
A new coalition is pushing the Tennessee Valley Authority to work toward independence from fossil fuels by 2030, but the provider's goal is 2050, to ensure low-cost and reliable energy, the Memphis Flyer reports.
The Clean Up TVA Coalition is made up of dozens of organizations, including environmental, social justice, and political groups like the Memphis NAACP, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Sierra Club, Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light, Appalachian Voices, and more.
The coalition was formed in response to TVA's desire to replace its Kingston and Cumberland coal plants with new methane gas plants and 149 miles of new gas pipeline. The utility reportedly has the second-highest planned gas buildout by 2030 among all major utilities. The coalition is urging TVA to invest instead in clean energy, such as solar, storage, and energy efficiency, to replace the utility's fossil fuel fleet, especially the retiring plants.
NSPE's Job Board is your one-stop resource for professional engineering employment. Whether you are on the hunt for your next career move or looking for today's top engineering leaders and talent, you will find it here.
NSPE provides the tools PEs need to keep current in the profession and advance their careers.
Featured Jobs
Civil Engineer III/Office Leader
Memphis, TN
Engineering Manager
Clarksville, TN
Find more job openings or reach the right employees on the NSPE Job Board.
Date: March 14, 2022
Christopher Saucier, P.E., was recently honored as a top 10 finalist for NSPE’s Federal Engineer of the Year Award for his work on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Boone Dam Remediation Project in Kingsport, Tennessee. Saucier and the other finalists were recognized prior to the announcement of a winner during a virtual awards event on February 24. Robert Zueck, Ph.D., P.E., was named the 2022 FEYA winner.
The Federal Engineer of the Year Award, sponsored by the Professional Engineers in Government, honors engineers employed by a federal agency that employs at least 50 engineers worldwide. These nominees have made extensive contributions to their organizations and also to the public that PEs ultimately serve.
Leading Project Manager Brings Boone Dam Remediation to a Close
After nearly seven years of remediation work, Boone Dam is expected to reopen to the public this summer. Christopher Saucier, P.E., was the principal project manager and technical director for the Boone Dam Internal Erosion Remediation Project, the largest dam safety modification program in agency history. The final construction piece of the dam’s recovery, a composite seepage barrier (cutoff wall), is anticipated to provide value beyond remediation costs and ensure public safety through enhanced risk reduction measures. Guiding a team of 60 engineers, geologists, and geographic information specialists, Saucier led development of new project structures and processes—coordinating efforts and communications between TVA design and construction teams and external contractors.
Aligned with the numerous technical advancements achieved during the project, Saucier facilitated new strategies for agency reviews and approvals required for project closure and reservoir operation, further advancing TVA’s implementation of risk-informed decision making. He also developed steps for evaluating project implementation impacts on TVA’s dam safety risk profile. Following the final stage of remediation, which demonstrated successful performance during reservoir refilling, an external independent review board recognized the project’s successful best practices as exemplary.
Date: March 14, 2022
Chattanooga’s sewer and storm water systems are receiving infrastructure upgrades in an effort to reduce sanitary sewer overflows after heavy rainfall. The city’s old sewer system combined sewage and rainfall into one system, causing repeated overflow into the Tennessee River, according to Water and Wastes Digest.
The project, “Clear Chattanooga,” includes major upgrades and revisions to portions of the wastewater system including pipe rehabilitation, pump station improvements, and upgrades to the Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus.
Proposed Law Would Ban Blockage of Large Utility Projects by Municipalities
Last summer, Memphis did something rare: it cancelled a major oil pipeline project from a multi-billion-dollar corporation, according to a WPLN News report.
The decision was celebrated by some Memphis residents and denounced by the fossil fuel company behind the project. Now, Tennessee lawmakers have introduced legislation that would
preempt local governments from blocking future projects.
Date: February 16, 2022
After a major ice storm knocked out power for more than 100,000 Memphis residents earlier this month, potential proactive solutions are being considered by various groups, according to an article in the Tennessee Lookout.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water primarily blamed downed tree branches for the outages and said it needs more resources to remove limbs throughout the city. An aging infrastructure is also blamed. MLGW's president said the utility has engaged with other city utilities on preparedness tactics to inform its infrastructure improvement plan. In a 2019 master plan, the Shelby County Office of Resilience recommended implementing a smart grid to mitigate power outages. However, cybersecurity risks and higher costs are stumbling blocks to such a solution.
Date: February 16, 2022
Engineering businesses could stand to benefit from Ford's Blue Oval City, the construction of which is expected to bring 3,000 workers on site each day by year's end, according to HTL Advantage President Mark Herbison, as quoted by commercialappeal.com. That number will likely increase to 8,000 workers a day in 2023, he said. HTL Advantage is an economic development coalition of three West Tennessee counties—Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale.
About 3,500 permanent jobs are expected to be created by the $5.6 billion Ford plant. Local and state officials believe that it could transform Western Tennessee. Other professions that could benefit from the project include architects, homebuilders, and trucking companies. Production at the facility is slated to begin in 2025.
Date: February 16, 2022
NSPE's Job Board is your one-stop resource for professional engineering employment. Whether you are on the hunt for your next career move or looking for today's top engineering leaders and talent, you will find it here.
NSPE provides the tools PEs need to keep current in the profession and advance their careers.
Featured Jobs
Mechanical Design Engineer
Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program
Oak Ridge, TN
Find more job openings or reach the right employees on the NSPE Job Board.
Date: January 19, 2022
Under President Biden's infrastructure plan that infuses $26.5 billion into bridge repair across the US, Tennessee will receive $302.1 million. The funds will come over five years via the Federal Highway Administration. Aside from making much-needed repairs, a major goal of the funding is to help bridges withstand the effects of climate change by modernizing them, FHWA Administrator Stephanie Pollack said.
Date: January 19, 2022
To meet demand for STEM and healthcare workers over the next decade, Tennessee may soon incentivize its community colleges and universities to recruit and graduate students in those fields, according to a Knoxville News Sentinel report.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is proposing a change to its funding formula that would give more money to colleges for students majoring in high-need academic fields. About a quarter of all associate degrees, a third of all bachelor degrees and over half of community college certificates would qualify for this premium, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The extra money will help community colleges and universities afford creating and supporting high-cost degrees like engineering and other STEM programs.