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HUD Secretary Turner calls opportunity zones ‘transformative’ in TN

HUD Secretary Turner calls opportunity zones ‘transformative’ in TN

During a visit to Nashville, U.S. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said opportunity zones have been "transformational" for underresourced areas in Tennessee.
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Tennessee Selects Road-Building Group for $9 Billion Toll Lanes Project, Securing $25 Billion in Concessions

Tennessee Selects Road-Building Group for $9 Billion Toll Lanes Project, Securing $25 Billion in Concessions

The Tennessee Transportation Modernization Board has unanimously selected DriveTN, a consortium of six companies, to fund and construct new toll lanes from southeast Nashville to Murfreesboro. This decision is part of a larger project that will also include portions of I-40 east of downtown and I-440 south of downtown Nashville. DriveTN secured the bid by agreeing to pay the state nearly $25 billion over a 50-year contract, including an upfront payment of $1.5 billion. The group will invest $9.2 billion to design, construct, operate, and maintain these 'choice' lanes. Governor Bill Lee lauded the proposal as the nation's largest and most valuable 'choice' lane road-building project, signaling a new approach to highway construction in Tennessee. The project is expected to commence in 2027, with completion anticipated within eight years, though some sections may open sooner. The state legislature passed the Transportation Modernization Act in 2023, which established the framework for this new funding and con...
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Tennessee Selects Road-Building Group for $9 Billion Toll Lanes Project, Securing $25 Billion in State Payments

Tennessee Selects Road-Building Group for $9 Billion Toll Lanes Project, Securing $25 Billion in State Payments

Tennessee's Transportation Modernization Board has unanimously selected DriveTN, a six-company partnership, to fund and construct toll lanes from southeast Nashville to Murfreesboro. This $9.2 billion project is part of a larger initiative to build 'choice' lanes across the state. DriveTN secured the bid by agreeing to pay the state nearly $25 billion over the 50-year life of the contract, including an upfront payment of $1.5 billion. This proposal was favored over other bidders who either requested subsidies or offered significantly less in concessions. The partnership includes international firms like Transurban (Australia), Tikehau Star/Infra/Capital (France), Ferrovial (Spain), and its U.S. subsidiary Cintra, alongside AECOM and Webber. Governor Bill Lee hailed the project as the nation's largest and most valuable 'choice' lane road-building endeavor, emphasizing it as a new model for highway construction in Tennessee. Work is projected to begin in 2027 and take up to eight years for full completion, t...
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Representative Chuck Fleischmann Secures $275 Million for Kairos Power's Nuclear Reactor in Oak Ridge

Representative Chuck Fleischmann Secures $275 Million for Kairos Power's Nuclear Reactor in Oak Ridge

Representative Chuck Fleischmann has played a pivotal role in securing $275 million in government funding for Kairos Power's new nuclear reactor, Hermes Two, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This initiative is part of a broader effort to establish nuclear power plants across the United States through public-private partnerships. Kairos Power has also announced the creation of its Nuclear Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Precast (NuCAMP) to train East Tennesseans for the nuclear workforce. The Hermes Two reactor is designed to generate 50 megawatts of electricity for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This development highlights a collaborative environment involving industry, academia, members of Congress, and local government in Tennessee, aiming to foster a nuclear renaissance. The project emphasizes building a robust workforce and a domestic supply chain to attract businesses to the region, addressing critical needs identified by companies considering relocation.
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Tennessee Selects Drive-TN for $9.2 Billion I-24 Choice Lanes Project Between Nashville and Murfreesboro

Tennessee Selects Drive-TN for $9.2 Billion I-24 Choice Lanes Project Between Nashville and Murfreesboro

Tennessee has chosen Drive-TN, a consortium, to construct and operate new optional express lanes on Interstate 24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. This project, potentially the state's largest infrastructure endeavor, involves Drive-TN privately funding 100% of the $9.2 billion construction costs. The company aims to recoup its investment through fees charged to drivers using the new lanes. Governor Bill Lee highlighted the project as America's largest and most valuable interstate choice lane project. Drive-TN, comprising Cintra, Transurban, Tikehau Star/Infra/Capital, Ferrovial, Webber, and AECOM, was selected through a competitive procurement process. The plan includes adding two optional lanes in each direction along 26 miles of I-24, utilizing dynamic pricing based on demand. Existing general-purpose lanes will remain free, with the project designed to improve overall traffic flow by diverting some vehicles to the new Choice Lanes. The project is a significant component of Lee's Transportation Moder...
Nashville Tennessean Nashville Tennessean
Federal contract lists Nashville for planned ICE support center

Federal contract lists Nashville for planned ICE support center

The Donelson area is listed as the site of a planned support center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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Trump Administration's DOE Shifts Focus to Reliable Power, Eyes Utah's Energy Resources

Trump Administration's DOE Shifts Focus to Reliable Power, Eyes Utah's Energy Resources

The Trump administration's Department of Energy (DOE) has significantly shifted its focus from decarbonization to expanding reliable electricity generation and grid capacity, according to Curt Coccodrilli, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office. Coccodrilli, during a visit to Utah, highlighted the state's abundant coal, geothermal, nuclear, and other energy resources as crucial opportunities to increase power supply and reduce electricity costs. He noted that the current administration's energy goals are "hyper-focused on adding electrons to the grid, not subtracting," a stark contrast to the previous administration's emphasis on the Green New Deal. President Trump declared a national emergency on his first day in office, citing an insufficient energy supply. In response, the DOE has prevented 45 coal plants, generating over 40 gigawatts, from going offline this year.
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Hunton Andrews Kurth Advises TDOT on $9.2 Billion I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project

Hunton Andrews Kurth Advises TDOT on $9.2 Billion I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is advising the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) on the $9.2 billion I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project, which is set to become America’s largest interstate Choice Lanes project. This initiative marks Tennessee's first transportation public-private partnership (P3) and aims to modernize the state's transportation infrastructure to meet the demands of population and economic growth. DriveTN, a consortium comprising Cintra, Transurban, Tikehau Star/Infra/Capital, Ferrovial, Webber, and AECOM, has been selected as TDOT’s private-sector partner through a competitive procurement process. The project involves adding new, optional Choice Lanes in each direction along approximately 26 miles of I-24 between Nashville and I-840, while existing general-purpose lanes will remain available. Hunton's Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure practice has been instrumental in the development, structuring, and competitive procurement of this project, which is recognized as a sig...
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I-24 toll lanes vendor pledges $24.8B toward TN roads over 50 years

I-24 toll lanes vendor pledges $24.8B toward TN roads over 50 years

Tennessee officials have selected a vendor to construct new, elevated toll lanes on Interstate 24.
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Tennessee Reports $1.2 Billion Budget Surplus Ahead of Gubernatorial Election

Tennessee Reports $1.2 Billion Budget Surplus Ahead of Gubernatorial Election

Tennessee concluded its 2025-26 fiscal year with a significant budget surplus of $1.2 billion. State Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson attributed this surplus partly to inflation and higher-than-expected corporate tax collections, though he advised caution regarding future corporate estimated payments. The state's budget for 2025-26 was approximately $60 billion, with about half derived from state tax revenue. This surplus from the previous fiscal year will be a factor in the upcoming 2027-28 budget, which begins its process in November 2026 and is finalized by spring 2027. The state is currently in its 2026-27 budget year. Mandy Spears, executive vice president at The Sycamore Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, noted that surpluses are often driven by conservative estimations, not necessarily indicating the state's overall economic health.
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Tennessee Reports $1.2 Billion Surplus Ahead of Gubernatorial Election

Tennessee Reports $1.2 Billion Surplus Ahead of Gubernatorial Election

Tennessee has reported a $1.2 billion surplus for the fiscal year 2025-26, as announced by State Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson. This surplus was partly attributed to inflation and higher-than-expected corporate tax collections. Bryson cautioned that these corporate estimated payments might require future adjustments. The state's budget for 2025-26 was nearly $60 billion, with approximately half covered by state tax revenue. The surplus revenue from the past fiscal year will be factored into the 2027-28 budget, with the process beginning in November and finalizing in the spring of 2027. The upcoming November election will determine the next governor, who will inherit this surplus. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn is the Republican nominee, and Memphis city councilwoman Jerri Green is the Democratic nominee, alongside independent candidates David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston.
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Pennsylvania Governor Implements Strict Guardrails for AI Data Centers to Protect Homeowners from Rising Energy Costs

Pennsylvania Governor Implements Strict Guardrails for AI Data Centers to Protect Homeowners from Rising Energy Costs

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order establishing what he terms the 'nation’s strictest guardrails on AI data centers.' This move comes amidst rumors of over 100 data center proposals in Pennsylvania and aims to prevent homeowners from bearing the brunt of rising energy costs associated with these facilities. The order, known as the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards (GRID Standards), mandates that data center developers must secure their own power supply and cover the electricity costs for development. A significant portion of this power must originate from clean energy sources, including solar, advanced nuclear, and battery storage. Furthermore, the order grants local communities increased authority, stating that state approval for a project will not be granted without local community endorsement. It also stipulates that in times of high energy demand, data centers will be the first to experience power cuts, prioritizing residential customers. Develope...