AFL-CIO Convention Passes EA-IFPTE Local 1937's Resolution Supporting TVA Eligibility for Zero-Carbon Advanced Nuclear Energy Grants

At this week’s AFL-CIO Convention, the labor federation joined together to call for expanding union jobs, supporting clean energy, and committing to advanced technology to combat climate change in the Tennessee Valley by passing a resolution titled “TVA Eligibility for Department of Energy Grants.”

Carolyn Wilson, Executive Vice President of the Engineering Association-IFPTE Local 1937, and IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson took the Convention stage on Tuesday to explain to convention delegates the role and significance of of the publicly owned TVA, which was established in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and an act of Congress to provide reliable affordable energy, good jobs and economic development for Appalachians states.

Henson elaborated that TVA’s mission to serve the public in Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, and small areas of Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia has left the utility at a disadvantage when it comes to federal grants for investing in advanced clean energy generation:

“One of the newest technologies in the energy sector is the advanced SMR - small modular reactors… These advance Small Modular Reactors are the future of the nuclear energy industry and a key part of combating climate change --- a priority of the Biden Administration.

The Department of Energy has recognized this fact by creating grants to support the construction of these new SMRs. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding of TVA’s function and purpose, the DOE [Department of Energy] has stated that TVA is not eligible to apply for these or other similar grants. The fact is that TVA is an independent federal authority and, more importantly, we operate with zero support from the American taxpayer. And, as our ratepayers fund the operation of the TVA, we SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE for these grants.”

The resolution was moved by Secretary-Treasurer Henson, seconded by IBEW Local 429 President Kim Sansom, and passed unanimously by the AFL-CIO Convention. It commits labor to working with the Biden Administration to allow TVA, the nation’s largest public utility company, to compete with other utilities and energy concerns for Department of Energy grants for advanced small modular reactors (SMR) that will provide safe, clean, scalable and flexible, and efficient energy in the near future.

Along with this resolution, delegates couldn’t help but notice Spot, Boston Dynamics’ four legged mobile robot, being operated by TVA employees to walk through the Convention’s exhibition hall, interact with union presidents and delegates, fetch dog toys, and pick up and discard stray trash with its manipulatable arm. The exhibition hall provided unions a space to share how technology and worker power are building the future of the labor movement and shaping the future of work.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler controls TVA’s Spot in the exhibition hall.

IFPTE and TVA partnered to give TVA technologists an opportunity to showcase emerging technologies that provide TVA employees, including Local 1937 members, significant workplace safety and productivity improvements.

IFPTE President Matt Biggs, IFPTE Southeast Area VP and NPEU-Local 70 President Katie Barrows with TVA’s Spot in the exhibition hall.

The TVA employees who demonstrated Spot at the convention are also working on evaluating and fielding the robotic technology as a way to allow workers to inspect and interact with hazardous or unsafe conditions from a safe distance. TVA employees were also on hand to demonstrate virtual reality headsets and hand controllers that are being used to train TVA employees to perform potentially hazardous work without putting inexperienced trainees in hazardous situations.

The passage of the resolution was reported extensively in the Chattanooga Times Free Press this week. TVA Chief Operating Officer Don Moul welcomed the resolution and said in a press statement:

“TVA’s partnership with unions stretches back to its earliest days and, working together, we have built the largest public power system in the nation, offering reliable energy and preserving natural resources while creating economic opportunity throughout our region. Today, 60 percent of TVA’s workforce is union represented and we remain focused on building for the future of the region, including working to decarbonize energy generation. 

We believe that advanced nuclear technology is needed to achieve that goal.  Partnerships with the federal government, other utilities and like-minded organizations are necessary to ensure such development is completed rapidly while minimizing the financial risks associated with new technology. We welcome the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers’ support of ensuring TVA and its customers are given equal consideration for government funding, and are committed to continuing our strong relationships with all of our union partners.”

IFPTE looks forward to working with our fellow TVA unions, the AFL-CIO, and with TVA to make sure TVA is able to apply for and secure federal grants to bring on-line SMR energy generation and other advanced clean energy technologies.