NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Today’s weather: Light evening rain likely. HIGH 67, LOW 51

THE LEDE

Tennessee’s Growth Prompts Debate over Future Power Demand

The Tennessee Valley Authority is plotting its course for the next 25 years through its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). 

The IRP is not a concrete plan or even a set of guardrails for the utility. Instead, it’s a look at several possible outcomes and ways forward over the next quarter century, with projections based on variables like how much governments regulate or deregulate power companies, whether population growth will continue, stall or even decline, and which industries will grow or wane in the region.

Critics say the IRP is too vague, which minimizes accountability, and relies too heavily on fossil fuels.

“What it’s meant to be is a compass, not a road map,” TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks told the Banner. “It’s meant to be a general look at all the various potential scenarios we might see over the next 25 years.”

FROM THE BANNER

BANNER & COMPANY: Hal Cato has served in leadership positions at some of Nashville’s most prominent nonprofits — including Hands On Nashville, Oasis Center and Thistle Farms. Today, he sits at the helm of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which oversees more than 1,500 funds and hundreds of millions of dollars to help those in need. How to best direct and coordinate those resources in a fast-changing city is a challenge Cato feels up for, even if it means changing.

ON THE RECORD

TSU TURMOIL: On Friday, the TSU board voted unanimously to recommend the school’s interim president fire Laurence Pendleton, the school’s top lawyer. Additionally, the board voted to end payments to former TSU president Glenda Glover, who is still on payroll following her retirement in June, and was set to receive $1.7 million over the next four years. The recommendations were introduced by board chair Dakasha Winton, who said she expects the actions to be taken on Monday. This comes at a time when the school has been facing public financial issues, with TSU telling state lawmakers that it would need financial support in order to make November’s payroll. — Connor Daryani

NWSL LOOKS ELSEWHERE: Nashville’s bid for an NWSL franchise came up short as the league named Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver as finalists on Friday. Lonnie Murray, the sports agent leading the local bid, told the Banner that feedback from the NWSL indicated interest, but that “the current Nashville Fairgrounds’ scheduling availability needs to be resolved.” Cincinnati’s bid, joined by rookie WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark, appeared to be the favorite. “We are otherwise an incredibly competitive bid, as is reflected in how far we’ve come, but this is far from over for us as we remain true to our commitment to explore every possible opportunity to bring a professional women’s sports team to Tennessee,” Murray said. — Steve Cavendish

OPEN SPACE: A prominent Nashville eyesore could soon be cleaned up. The Nashville Business Journal reports that the East Bank site long home to PSC Metals is under contract, though it’s unclear who the buyer is. Multiple mayors in recent decades have sought the removal of the scrapyard. The property is adjacent to city-owned land currently under development with The Fallon Company. — Stephen Elliott

A DIFFERENT RESULT: Many of the problems that have plagued the Tennessee Titans this season persisted Sunday against the Houston Texans. This time, though, the Titans overcame those issues and defeated the AFC South’s first-place team 32-27. The Texans returned the opening kickoff 80 yards and scored a touchdown on their first offensive play, sacked Tennessee quarterback Will Levis eight times and took the lead in the final minute of the third quarter when they scored on an interception return. Sub-par special teams play, too many sacks allowed and Levis’ ball security have been problematic ever since Week 1. However, the Titans scored the game’s final nine points and, for the first time under coach Brian Callahan, won a game they trailed at the start of the fourth quarter (they were 0-5 in such contests).With the win, the Titans improved to 3-8 and took sole possession of third place in the division.  — David Boclair

DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP: Tennessee House Democrats elected to retain its top leadership Saturday, meaning Memphis Rep. Karen Camper will continue as minority party leader and Nashville Rep. John Ray Clemmons will continue as caucus chair. Camper staved off a challenge from fellow Memphis Rep. G.A. Hardaway and Clemmons was elected over Rep. Justin J. Pearson, also of Memphis. In other Democrat leadership news, Rep. Vincent Dixie of Nashville announced his campaign to be chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party when chairman Hendrell Remus vacates the seat in January. — Sarah Grace Taylor

BEST OF THE REST ($ indicates subscription required)

• FALLEN WATER: Hurricane Helene knocked out water utilities in rural North Carolina to such a degree that it could take years to fully recover. (Grist)

• LIFE AND LIMBS: Logging in the Pacific Northwest is a lucrative pursuit, but those who do it risk death every day they are on the job. (The New York Times)

• GLASS CEILING: A study has found that women in the workplace face 30 different types of identity bias, including marital status, age and attractiveness. (CBS News)

• BEHIND BARS: An editor and broadcaster who was jailed in Russia and then released as part of a prisoner swap talks about her experience while incarcerated. (The Washington Post)

• SIGN OF TROUBLE: Research indicates that vulnerability to financial scams could be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease in older people who otherwise show no signs of cognitive impairment. (The Conversation)

• NO HUMANS NEEDED: A 57-year-old woman recently received a double lung transplant performed entirely by a robotic system. (Interesting Engineering) 

• ART IMITATES LIFE: L. Frank Baum, who in 1900 wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that decades later inspired the iconic movie, modeled one of the most important characters after his mother-in-law. (Smithsonian Magazine)

Quote of Note

“Talk about the cruelest formation ever created by nature. It’s almost like somebody did set those rocks out in this nice little pattern of her plane, just to mess with somebody out there looking for her.”

— Tony Romeo, CEO of Deep Vision, an ocean exploration company, on a recent discovery that some believed could have been the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s plane. It was not.