We’re partnering with Appalachian Voices and Sunshine Cinema and hitting the road for the Tennessee Valley Energy Democracy Listening Tour! Events across the state are providing opportunities for community members to discuss the history and impacts of the TVA energy system, evaluate decision making, and inviting attendees to vision how our public power could better serve communities in the Valley. The events include solar powered screenings of the film The Electric Valley and will highlight stories of local energy reform efforts. By powering film events with solar, we’re offering inspiration on the screen while modeling what alternative energy and climate solutions look like!
Since the 1930s, life in the Tennessee Valley has been drastically shaped by electricity production and use. Today, communities are struggling with coal ash pollution, job losses from plant closures, high electric bills, and lack access to safe, affordable energy options like solar energy and energy efficiency. Even though the region has been publicly powered for nearly 90 years, communities feel that decisions about energy production and use are often made without their full input. It’s time to change that!
These free events are taking place in in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, LaFollette, Chattanooga and Rogersville, Tennessee. The tour will also make stops in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Huntsville, Alabama. Presented by Appalachian Voices, Working Films, and Sunshine Cinema in partnership with The Alliance House, Chickasaw Group of the Sierra Club, Energy Alabama, The Equity Alliance, Friends of the Earth, Greenspaces, Campbell Heartland Network, Hawkins County Sierra Club, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, LaFollette Utilities Board, Middle Tennessee Group of the Sierra Club, Nashville & Middle Tennessee Indivisible, PVEC Member Voices, Save Energy Save Dollars Coalition, Science for the People, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment, and Sunrise Movement Nashville.
Information for each event can be found below. Check back as more events are added!
Saturday August 3rd at 12pm.
Bickford Community Center
233 Henry Ave.
Memphis, TN 38107
Hosted by: Save Energy Save Dollars Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Chickasaw Group of the Sierra Club, and the Climate Reality Project.
Tuesday August 6th at 6pm.
Vanderbilt Divinity School
411 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37240
Hosted by: Sunrise Movement Nashville, Middle Tennessee Group of the Sierra Club, Nashville & Middle Tennessee Indivisible, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, The Equity Alliance, and Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment.
Wednesday August 7th at 6pm.
Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center
3124 Wilson Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37914
Hosted by: Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and The Alliance House.
Saturday August 10th from 12pm.
Postmark LaFollette
119 S. Tennessee Ave
LaFollette, TN 37766 US
Hosted by: Grow Campbell County and LaFollette Utilities Board.
Tuesday August 13th at 6pm (doors open at 5:30pm).
South Chattanooga Rec Center (in St. Elmo)
1151 W 40th S.
Chattanooga, TN 37409
Hosted by: Cherokee Group of the Sierra Club and Greenspaces.
Thursday August 15th at 6pm.
Dr. Richard Showers Rec Center.
4600 Blue Spring Rd NW
Huntsville, AL 35810
Hosted by: Energy Alabama.
Monday August 26th at 6pm.
Shepherd’s Center
306 E. Main Street
Rogersville, TN 37857
Hosted by Care NET.
Thursday August 29th at 5:30pm.
Bob Kirby Branch Library
175 Iron Skillet Ct
Bowling Green, KY 42104
Hosted by: Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.
Tuesday September 3rd at 6:00pm.
Walters State Community College – Room 204
1325 Claiborne St.
Tazewell, TN 37879
Hosted by: PVEC Member Voices
Thursday September 12th at 3:00pm
Roane State Community College
2567 Cook Rd.
Crossville, TN 38571-3208,
Hosted by: Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment, and Crossville Indivisible.
Thursday September 12th at 5:30pm
Montgomery Public Library
350 Pageant Ln
Clarksville, TN
Hosted by: Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light, Sierra Club Clarksville-Montgomery County, and Clarksville Indivisible.
