2023 Tennessee Code › Title 68 - HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (§§ 68-1-NEW — 68-221-1319) › ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (§§ 68-201-NEW — 68-221-1319) › Chapter 204 - STATE ENERGY POLICY COUNCIL (§§ 68-204-101 — 68-204-110) › Section 68-204-104 - Members of council

(a)
The council is composed of twenty-two (22) members as follows:
(1)
The governor shall appoint:
(A)
One (1) representative of energy resource extraction or energy production industries, excluding the Tennessee Valley authority, who may be appointed from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested energy resource extraction or energy production industries, including, but not limited to, the biofuel, oil and gas, wind, coal, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, and nuclear energy industries. The governor shall consult with the industries listed in this subdivision (a)(1)(A) to determine qualified persons to fill the position on the council;
(B)
One (1) representative of the department of environment and conservation;
(C)
One (1) representative of the department of economic and community development;
(D)
One (1) representative of a public college or university in this state who has academic expertise in energy production or distribution;
(E)
One (1) representative of the Tennessee public utilities commission;
(F)
One (1) representative of the Tennessee Valley authority;
(G)
One (1) representative of the United States department of energy or another partner in the Oak Ridge Reservation, who is a nonvoting member; and
(H)
One (1) citizen to represent residential energy users;
(2)
The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint:
(A)
One (1) representative of a natural gas distributor or from the natural gas pipeline industry;
(B)
One (1) representative with expertise in radiological control or nuclear criticality safety or nuclear wastes;
(C)
One (1) representative of the crude oil processing or pipeline industry;
(D)
One (1) representative of the nuclear manufacturing industry;
(E)
One (1) representative who is involved in innovative energy production;
(F)
One (1) member of the house of representatives; and
(G)
One (1) citizen to represent farmers or other agricultural enterprises;
(3)
The speaker of the senate shall appoint:
(A)
One (1) representative of an electric cooperative;
(B)
One (1) representative of Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
(C)
One (1) representative of a municipal electric provider;
(D)
One (1) representative of the local government of the city of Oak Ridge;
(E)
One (1) representative of the local government of either Hamilton County, Rhea County, Unicoi County, Anderson County, or Roane County;
(F)
One (1) member of the senate; and
(G)
One (1) citizen to represent small business owners.
(b)
In addition to any other requirements for membership on the council, all persons appointed or otherwise named to serve as members of the council shall be bona fide residents of this state, and shall continue to reside in this state during their tenure on the council.
(c)
(1)
The entire membership of the council as comprised on June 30, 2024, shall be vacated on July 1, 2024, and new members shall be appointed in accordance with subsection (a). All appointments to the council must be made by July 1, 2024.
(2)
In order to stagger the terms of the newly appointed council members, initial appointments must be made as follows:
(A)
The members described in subdivision (a)(1) shall serve an initial term of one (1) year, which expires on June 30, 2025;
(B)
The members described in subdivision (a)(2) shall serve an initial term of two (2) years, which expires on June 30, 2026; and
(C)
The members described in subdivision (a)(3) shall serve an initial term of three (3) years, which expires on June 30, 2027.
(d)
(1)
Following the expiration of members' initial terms as prescribed in subdivision (c)(2), all three-year terms shall begin on July 1 and terminate on June 30, three (3) years thereafter.
(2)
All members shall serve until the expiration of the term to which they were appointed and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
(3)
In case of a vacancy in the membership on the council prior to the expiration of a member's term, a successor shall be appointed within thirty (30) days of the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term by the appropriate appointing authority and in the same manner as the original appointment.
(e)
The appointing authorities may remove any member of the council for misconduct, incompetency, willful neglect of duty, or other just cause.
(f)
Prior to beginning their duties, each member of the council shall take and subscribe to the oath of office provided for state officers.
(g)
In making appointments to the council, the appointing authorities shall strive to ensure that the council is composed of persons who are diverse in professional or educational background, ethnicity, race, sex, geographic residency, heritage, perspective, and experience.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 981,s 2, eff. 5/21/2024.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 981,s 1, eff. 5/21/2024.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 448, s 1, eff. 5/13/2021.
Added by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 458, s 2, eff. 7/1/2017.