Urban League Receives Grant for Clean Energy Infrastructure in Underserved Areas

The Urban League of Middle Tennessee or ULMT (Nashville, TN) is working to improve the quality of life for underserved populations across the region through a new project with Metro Nashville, Nashville Electric Service (NES) and Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels (MWTCF). The project will modernize Nashville’s power grid with clean and sustainable energy enhancements that will ensure a cleaner and more resilient future for Nashville while providing community members and visitors with more secure, equitable and cost-effective power.

The project – the Nashville Area Sustainable Human-centered Grid Modernization Strategy (NASH-GMS) – is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Energy to Communities program. Over the span of two to three years, Nashville will receive $500,000 and up to $3.5 million in technical assistance. Working closely with Oak Ridge National Laboratories, NASH-GMS partners will develop a digital twin of NES’ distribution network. ULMT will be able to synthesize data provided by the digital twin and feedback from underserved communities to champion equitable energy infrastructure development in historically underserved and disadvantaged areas.

Developments are expected to take place within the next five to 10 years with a long-term outlook aligning with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Metro Nashville’s decarbonization goals through 2050.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this project that will not only better serve electricity customers in Metro Nashville but will also address critical equity gaps for underserved groups in the area while ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable future for Music City,” says Clifton Harris, President and CEO of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee. “Far too many minority communities are energy burdened and struggling with several economic stressors. Secure, reliable and cost-effective electricity is a necessity and should not be treated as a privilege in the 21st century. As a partner on this project, our goal is to ensure more underserved communities gain access to clean energy that is reliable and affordable.”

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