BrightRidge, Seven State Power Corporation partnership to bring battery storage to the Tennessee Valley

Johnson City's energy authority, BrightRidge, will begin a new project to build a battery storage site in partnership with Seven States Power Corporation, according to a press release. The project will consist of 20 megawatts of battery storage capacity associated with BrightRidge's existing electric distribution system. "We are excited to bring forward electric infrastructure to help manage growing demand to meet the region's energy needs," Betsey Kirk McCall, president and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation said in the release. "Battery storage provides a powerful, flexible, and innovative tool that aligns with national priorities around energy dominance, affordability, and reliability." A battery storage system helps to stabilize electrical grids, providing steady power flow regardless of fluctuations from inconsistent generation of renewable energy sources as well as other disruptions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project is being funded by Seven States Power Corporations zero-interest loan of $415 million and a $24 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. "This scalable battery solution is another example of how the team at Seven States is on the leading edge of deploying technologies that will define the future of the energy sector," Jeff Dykes, president and CEO of BrightRidge, said. "It gives BrightRidge greater control during peak demand periods and supports our mission to empower our customers' connection to the world by offering reliable energy." The release states the batteries can store energy from the existing grid and deploying it during periods of peak demand or system stress which will stabilize the grid and reduce exposure to high-cost power purchases. The first of its kind in the Tennessee Valley, this project is expected to support the electric needs of approximately 5,500 homes and business within BrightRidge's service area and will also create jobs during the construction process. The release states BrightRidge is still assessing locations for the battery storage project, but expects construction to begin in 2027, with a goal of completing the project by the end of 2028.