We are excited to announce the release of our 2024 Annual Report! This comprehensive document offers a deep dive into the progress and initiatives that shaped the past year, focusing on advancing energy innovation, economic development, and environmental stewardship across our membership region.
The report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, stakeholders, and the public, providing a detailed look at how our members are addressing critical energy challenges and opportunities. Download the report today, and join us as we continue to shape the energy future of the region. Read an excerpt of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s introduction to the document below.
Chairman’s Message
I am proud to serve as Chairman of the Southern States Energy Board during a time of unprecedented change, growth, and opportunity in the energy sector. The members of this distinguished organization have accelerated their efforts to utilize our resources wisely, employ smart technologies, educate a skilled workforce, and diversify our sources of energy generation for a bright future. Our 64th Annual Meeting, themed ”Powering Prosperity: Driving the South’s Abundant Energy Renaissance,” celebrates a year of incredible strides made across our region.
The Southern States Energy Board was initially established in 1960 as the Southern Interstate Nuclear Board (SINB). Notably, its first Annual Meeting was hosted in Nashville, Tennessee. The SINB compact of 16 states and two territories quickly became a primary catalyst for the peaceful uses of atomic energy and the deployment of nuclear power throughout a region of the United States with a yearning for electric generation and subsequent economic growth.
When the 1973 oil embargo created a worldwide panic, our southern states were searching for responses to the “Energy Crisis.” Acting on legislation proposed by Legislative Councils across the region, governors recommended and legislatures passed the Southern States Energy Compact in 1978, creating the Southern States Energy Board.
A unique aspect of our Board’s construct is our Associate Members program with 57 active entities. Established in 1981, members serve in an advisory capacity to the Board, providing critical insights on the impacts of federal and state policies and regulations and collaborating on Board initiatives that transcend diverse industry and academic priorities.
While our energy landscape continues to evolve, one principle has definitively informed sound policy decisions throughout our history – an all of the above energy strategy is vital to providing Americans with affordable and reliable electricity, national security, economic development, and health and safety. This year, our member state legislatures enacted nearly 400 new laws establishing and refining energy goals and environmental strategies ensuring investments in safe, clean, and reliable energy to meet future demands. While there is some variation in focus across our region, common threads are a commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and diversification of resources.
Our region is undergoing a significant energy renaissance. Nuclear power and fossil fuels have long been the backbone of our energy generation. Recent years have seen a marked increase in the conversion of coal to natural gas units, investments and innovations in nuclear energy, adoption of renewable energy sources, and the emergence of industrial decarbonization technologies. A measured approach to the diversification of energy sources coupled with the deployment of advanced technologies strengthens our grid’s reliability and resiliency and delivers affordable electricity to all sectors.
Tennessee is reinforcing its position as a leader in nuclear energy, building on a legacy that began the pioneering work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Established during the Manhattan Project, ORNL has long been a driver of nuclear research and innovation and continues to play a pivotal role in advancing nuclear technology. Last year, I signed Executive Order 101 to create the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council and establish the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Fund, currently totaling $60 million. These initiatives underscore our commitment to a robust nuclear ecosystem that attracts top-tier companies and academic institutions to collaborate on cutting-edge research and development.
The Nuclear Fund has already helped to secure critical nuclear energy education and business partnerships in the Volunteer State, including Orano USA’s decision to select Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the preferred site to construct a new, multi-billion dollar, state-of-the-art centrifuge uranium enrichment facility. As the Volunteer State strives to lead the nation in nuclear energy innovation and advancement, we will continue to deliver an environment for nuclear energy companies to invest and succeed, creating new quality jobs and greater opportunity for Tennesseans.
The Southern States Energy Board, with its unique blend of state, energy industry, and federal partnerships, is leading a multitude of energy and environmental projects that are directly benefitting our members and the communities we serve.
Through the Board’s Radioactive Materials Transportation program, appointees provide input and assistance in the planning and establishment of a transportation system to ensure the safe shipment of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
Carbon management research is crucial for the South, where energy production, manufacturing, and heavy industries drive both economic growth and energy security. The Southern States Energy Board’s Carbon Management Program is rapidly expanding and now includes ten research and commercial-scale development projects.
A key strength of the Board is its proactive leadership in advancing innovative energy technologies. A notable accomplishment is collaboration with Aircapture to develop a carbon dioxide (CO2) direct air capture technology that achieves a 99 percent purity CO2 stream, which is critical for commercial use. Building on this, the Southeast Direct Air Capture (SEDAC) Hub project will begin later this year to create a CO2 reduction ecosystem in Mobile County, Alabama.
The Board’s Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) identified potential for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in southwest Arkansas, leading to deployment of a CCUS solution for Ash Grove’s Foreman Cement Plant. Additionally, five SSEB projects within DOE’s Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) Initiative are reducing the risks and costs associated with large-scale CCUS projects in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Collaborating with over 74 partners, the Board also leads SECARB-USA and the CCUS Commercialization Consortium, bridging the gap between research and commercial deployment through technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
As we look toward the future, we remain committed to fostering sustainable energy solutions that balance economic growth with the responsible use of our natural resources. I commend our members, industry partners, and stakeholders for their unwavering support and collaboration. Through current programs, the Board’s work is returning nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in taxpayer funds to member states. Together, we will continue to lead the way in energy innovation, ensuring a bright and prosperous future for our region and the entire nation.
Bill Lee
Governor of Tennessee
Chairman
