Neighbors Powering What Matters

Community Energy: the benefit of Bolivar Energy Authority and TVA working together
Community Energy

Community Energy—
In Our Region, Power Means More

Bolivar Energy Authority is powered by a public power model — owned by and accountable to the people who live here. So the initiatives we invest in through our power model serve one purpose: helping our communities thrive.

Because we support public power, we all benefit from Community Energy. It’s the progress our model enables — like more job opportunities thanks to thriving and growing communities, outdoor recreation thanks to our protected lands, cleaner energy sources, and much more.

A Partnership of Service

Bolivar Energy Authority and TVA work together to power not just our homes and businesses, but our potential too — by combining efforts to help create a future we all believe in.

Working Together to Make Life in Our Community Better

Community Connection and Solar Power

Bolivar Energy Authority and TVA were founded on a mission to serve — through reliable and affordable energy, a safe and protected environment and thriving economic development.

Improving job opportunities for residents drives economic development projects for Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) and Hardeman County, said Tony Kirk, BEA President and CEO. Kirk has been working closely with Aaron Stewart, TVA Economic Senior Field Consultant, the City of Bolivar and Hardeman County on these endeavors. BEA also worked with TVA and its economic development partners to help bring in a new manufacturing facility to the area, including 100 jobs.

As part of this mission to boost economic development, Kirk shares that BEA is excited to bring solar power to the area. A new agreement with TVA that allows local power companies to generate a portion of their power needs from their own energy sources enabled BEA to sign a contract with Silicon Ranch, a solar power company, in November 2020. The solar power farm will generate enough low-cost energy to power about 500 homes in the area. Although the project is still in its early stages, Kirk says estimates show that it will save $150,000, which can then be reinvested in the power system and the community.

The team at BEA strives to provide all their customers with affordable and reliable power. Kirk shares that BEA’s partnership with TVA helps maintain stable rates, and a TVA Community Care Fund grant provided a “big lift” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were distributed by four local churches to help those in need pay their electric bills and more.

Maintaining reliable power across the large BEA service area is a critical aspect of the BEA-TVA partnership. Citing the February winter storm that impacted the region and much of the U.S., Kirk said the ability to partner with TVA and other local power companies (LPC) helped BEA continue to provide consistent service to customers. In contrast, other areas of the country, such as parts of Texas, struggled due to a reliance on private power companies. These companies were overwhelmed by unprecedented energy demands and had no way to access backup power for their customers. A commitment to Community Energy ensured BEA—and other LPCs served by TVA— weathered the storm smoothly.

Our energy has fueled progress in our region since 1933. See the ways it's helping shape our future.

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Resources for Your Home, Business and Life

Our partnership makes helpful programs like these possible.

Economic Development

Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) works with TVA Economic Development to attract new companies and bring more jobs to the area and to help existing businesses and industries grow in a sustainable way.

Recently, Choate Engineering Performance, an automotive engine manufacturer, announced plans to invest $8 million and establish new operations in Hardeman County, which will create 100 new jobs at the Bolivar facility.

Economic development partners on the project include BEA, TVA Economic Development, City of Bolivar, Bolivar Industrial Development Board, Hardeman County and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Discover all the resources designed to help you manage your energy use and boost your bottom line.

Education

Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) and TVA work together to support community-wide learning about energy efficiency, meet STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) objectives and provide opportunities to develop skills that can prepare students for careers in technical fields. 

TVA STEM Grants

Teachers in public schools that receive power from a TVA distributor can win STEM grants up to $5,000. In 2022 alone, TVA distributed $1 million, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated, a TVA retiree organization, and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. TVA gives preference to applications covering its primary areas of focus–environment, energy, economic development, and community problem solving. 

BEA was proud of Bolivar Middle School and Middleton High School for winning TVA STEM grants during the 2019-2020 school year.

TVA EnergyRight® School Uplift 

Schools enrolled in TVA EnergyRight® School Uplift receive infrastructure upgrades to reduce energy costs and improve the quality of the learning environment. Heating, cooling and lighting improvements are the tip of the iceberg, however as the program’s focus is long-term learning for communities. Students and faculty at chosen schools receive behavior-based strategic energy management (SEM) training and learn easy, actionable energy saving tips and energy efficiency practices.  

TVA EnergyRight Educational Workshops

Eye Spy Energy Kids’ Workshop

TVA EnergyRight and BEA partner to bring Spark, Bolt, Zap and their other EnergyRight Monster friends to elementary schools across the community, teaching students where energy comes from, how we use it and ways to save at home. Students can continue the energy-saving fun with their families using Eye Spy Energy Kits.

EnergyRight® Energy Monsters

TVA and local power companies partner up to bring EnergyRight® Energy Monsters workshops to schools to teach where energy comes from, how we use it and ways to save at home. Students can take home Eye Spy Energy Kits to continue the energy savings fun with their families.

Education

Renewables

BEA partners with TVA to provide opportunities for the community to access clean and affordable renewable energy sources to help support a greener energy future for the Valley.

BEA has signed a contract with Silicon Ranch, a solar power company, to build a solar power farm that will generate enough low-cost energy to power about 500 homes in the area.

To learn more about renewable energy options for residents and businesses in the Valley, explore the resources available to you.

Renewables

Residential

Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) partners with TVA to help customers make smart energy decisions and save money through TVA EnergyRight.

Our partnership with TVA EnergyRight offers you resources to help with your home’s energy needs. From DIY energy-saving advice to finding a local contractor you can trust, TVA EnergyRight resources can help you improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money on your power bill.

As of June 2021, several customers in the BEA service area have participated in the DIY Home Energy Assessment and Home Energy Evaluation programs.

Community Energy - Residential