Lee roads proposal: toll lanes, public-private partnerships, raising fees on electric vehicles
Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s administration is unveiling some of the proposals it plans to introduce as part of a major overhaul of Tennessee’s highway system.
According to a newly launched website called Build With Us, the Transportation Department sees several “solutions” to addressing a growing funding shortfall to address worsening congestion on state roads. They include:
— Public-Private Partnerships: Having private companies build and maintain new roads in urban areas will allow the state to spend more on rural initiatives like adding a lanes to interstates.
— “Choice” lanes: Creating toll lanes along existing routes to give drivers the option of paying to bypass slower traffic.
— Electric vehicle fees: Finding ways to charge all types of vehicles equally. Electric vehicles currently pay a $100 annual fee to drive on Tennessee roads while official estimate gas-powered vehicles pay an average of about $300 in combined state and federal fuel taxes.
— Delivery updates: Speeding up the way road projects are move from the planning and bidding phases to construction.
— Staff pay: Eliminating unfilled positions at the Transportation Department and spending the $34 million on raising salaries for remaining workers to market rates.
Here’s the timetable for filling the upcoming SCOTENN vacancy
With state Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee announcing her plans to retire at the end of August, officials have released a timetable for selecting her successor.
Applicants must be licensed attorneys of at least 35 years of age who live in the eastern grand division of the state. The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will accept applications through Dec. 12. The panel plans to interview candidates on Jan. 4 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The council usually narrows the list down to three finalists at the end of its public hearings. The slate will will then undergo background checks and vetting by the governor’s office before Bill Lee either makes his choice or asks for another list. The governor’s nominee must be confirmed by the General Assembly before being sworn into the state’s court of last resort.
House Dems make change in No. 2 leadership position
House Democrats have voted to replace Rep. Vincent Dixie as caucus chair after an election cycle in which the minority’s numbers shrank. The caucus instead elected Rep. John Ray Clemmons for the No. 2 leadership post. Both are Nashville Democrats.
House Democrats lost one Memphis seat to redistricting and other when longtime Rep. John Mark Windle of Livingston decided to run for re-election as an independent. He lost to Republican Ed Butler.
Democrat Ronnie Glynn earlier this month narrowly held on to a Clarksville seat vacated by Jason Hodges and a Caleb Hemmer won an open race for a newly drawn district in southern Davidson County.
Here’s the release from House Democrats:
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership positions for the upcoming 113th General Assembly of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis remains House Minority Leader and Rep. John Ray Clemmons is the newly-elected Caucus Chair. Rep. Clemmons said that he’s “honored by the trust shown in him by the Caucus membership” and said he’s “ready to get to work on the challenges that lie ahead.” Other positions elected today were as follows:
— Assistant Minority Leader: Rep. Harold Love of Nashville
— House Floor Leader: Rep. Bill Beck of Nashville
— Minority Whip: Rep. Jason Powell of Nashville
— Caucus Vice-Chair: Rep. Bob Freeman of Nashville
— Caucus Treasurer: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville
— Caucus Secretary: Rep. Ronnie Glynn of Clarksville
— Leader Pro Tempore: Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis
In addition to the above, Rep. Dwayne Thompson of Memphis and Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar were elected to fill the 2 House Democratic positions on the Joint Fiscal Review Committee.
New TNJ edition alert: McNally interview, Kelsey guilty plea, PAC spending roudup
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out early this week because of the holiday weekend. Here is what’s in it:
— TNJ Interview: Senate Speaker McNally talks legacy and charts course for future
— From the courts: Kelsey pleads guilty to 2 counts, state Supreme Court throws out mandatory life sentences for juveniles.
— Campaign finance update: PAC giving rose 5% compared with last election cycle.
Also: Eddie Mannis says he was “shut up” by House speaker, Jason Mumpower wonders why he has to wait at restaurants when so many people are moving to Tennessee, Andy Ogles gets fined by state for late mayoral disclosure, and a missing Joe Towns prophesy.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
House GOP re-elects top leadership team
House Republicans have voted to retain their top leadership team of Speaker Cameron Sexton of Crossville, Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland, Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison of Cosby, and Majority Whip Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville. Pat Marsh of Shelbyville was renominated for speaker pr tem. All were unopposed.
Further down the ticket, Mark Cochran of Englewood was elected assistant majority leader. He succeeds Ron Gant of Rossville, who was seriously injured in a head-on crash of two SUVs last month. Cochran had announced his challenge before the wreck and some members had expected Gant to bow out of the race so he could focus on his recovery. But Gant, who did not attend the caucus meeting at Paris Landing State Park, decided to remain on the ballot.
Sexton was one of six candidate for speaker after Glen Casada (R-Franklin) resigned the post amid scandal in the summer of 2019. Faison was elected to succeed Sexton as caucus chair. Lamberth was first elected majority leader in 2017.
Here’s the release from House Republicans:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee House Republicans today selected Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, by unanimous vote to lead the House of Representatives for a third term.
The Republican House Caucus held its biennial organizational meeting to elect leadership positions following a historic election in which the House GOP gained two seats, securing a 75-24 supermajority. The caucus election was held at Paris Landing State Park in Paris, Tenn.“I greatly appreciate the overwhelming support and the trust my colleagues have placed in me to continue serving as speaker,” said Sexton. “Tennessee leads because Republicans continue standing strong to preserve the freedoms, liberties, and conservative values that are important to the citizens of our state. Together, we will continue to effectively partner to prioritize solutions that build upon the General Assembly’s successes so Tennessee remains the best place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.”
Members voted unanimously to reelect for a third term State Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, as majority leader, State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, as caucus chairman, and State Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, as majority whip. State Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, was unanimously chosen to serve his second term as Speaker Pro Tempore.
Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, was elected to his first term as Assistant Majority Leader.
“Tennessee voters spoke loud and clear this year when they overwhelmingly elected Republicans to represent them at every level,” Lamberth said. “I am so proud of all this caucus has accomplished. Together, with the leadership of Speaker Sexton, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Gov. Bill Lee, we will continue to deliver on our promise to uphold common sense conservative values and seek the best possible quality of life for all Tennesseans.”
“Republicans in the legislature have been extremely successful over the last decade at building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Tennessee,” Faison said. “The House Republican Caucus for the 113th General Assembly is made up of 75 talented, hardworking Tennesseans from every corner of this state who have a great desire to build on that tradition. I’m proud to have their support as we work to move Tennessee forward.”
Others elected to caucus leadership positions include State Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta as floor leader; State Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City, as caucus vice chair; State Rep. Michelle Carringer, R-Knoxville as Secretary; State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, as Treasurer.
Freshman State Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, was elected Assistant Floor Leader.
The 113th General Assembly is scheduled to convene on Jan. 10, 2023.
LG Chem to build $3.2B cathode plant in Clarksville
LG Chem of South Korea announced plans to build a $3.2 billion cathode plant in Clarksville to supply electric vehicle makers in Tennessee and elsewhere. The new facility is projected to create 860 jobs in Montgomery County.
Here’s the release from Gov. Bill Lee’s office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and LG Chem officials today announced the company’s plan to invest approximately $3.2 billion to establish a new cathode manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee, which will support the electric vehicle battery value-chain in the U.S.
LG Chem’s anticipated investment of approximately $3.2 billion represents the single largest announced foreign direct investment in Tennessee’s history. The project is expected to create 860 new jobs in Montgomery County.
The Clarksville facility will be the largest of its kind in the U.S. and is expected to produce roughly 120,000 tons of cathode material annually by 2027, which is enough to power batteries in 1.2 million electric vehicles with a range of 310 miles per charge.
The current plan is for the state-of-the-art facility to be constructed on 420 acres at the Allensworth site in Clarksville. Construction is slated to begin in Q1 2023, and the plant is scheduled to be in production by the second half of 2025. Once operational, the facility will produce cathode materials, which are one of the most critical ingredients for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries.
The Tennessee site will play a critical role in LG Chem’s strategy to increase its battery materials business by producing advanced NCMA cathode materials containing nickel, cobalt, manganese and aluminum for next-generation EV batteries with improved battery capacity and stability.
In addition, the Clarksville facility will feature LG Chem’s most advanced production technology, including the ability to produce more than 10,000 tons of cathode material per line, the industry’s highest. LG Chem also plans to implement its smart factory technology in Tennessee to automate the entire production process and establish a quality analysis and control system that will be the benchmark for all other cathode plants in the world.
The new facility will be designed with the environment and future needs of clean energy in mind. LG Chem will collaborate with power suppliers in Tennessee to respond to the demands of customers, including battery and electric vehicle manufacturers, for more renewable energy sources. Operation of the new facility will rely completely on renewable energy provided by solar and hydroelectric power.
Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, LG Chem is a leading chemical and science-oriented company focused on moving toward a more sustainable future. LG Chem has nearly 19,000 employees across more than 50 global business sites, and in 2021, had sales of more than $37 billion.
South Korea is one of Tennessee’s top 10 countries for foreign direct investment. There are approximately 20 Korean-based establishments that have invested $2.3 billion and employ more than 3,500 people across the state. LG Chem’s $3.2 billion investment will more than double the investments made by South Korean-based companies.
LG Chem’s significant investment and job creation contribute to Tennessee’s continued growth in electric vehicle manufacturing. Since 2017, companies have pledged to create more than 11,000 new jobs and invested $12.7 billion in the state through EV-related projects. In addition, more than 180,000 electric vehicles have been produced in Tennessee since 2013, which ranks the state No. 1 in the Southeast for electric vehicle manufacturing.
Gas prices ease by 9 cents in week before Thanksgiving
Tennessee gas prices dropped 9 cents in the week before the travel-heavy Thanksgiving weekend to an average of $3.20 per gallon, according the AAA auto club. The state’s fuel prices were 13 cents lower than a month ago, but 8 cents more than a year ago.
AAA says 69% of gas stations have gas available for less than $3.25 and the lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.95. Tennessee has the seventh cheapest gas in the country. The national average is $3.66.
New TNJ edition alert: Lee’s road plans, Senate GOP re-elects leadership team, Supreme Court opening breeds speculation about successor
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— Lee wants to make major road upgrades without new taxes, debt. Can it be done without tolls?
— Political update: Senate GOP re-elects leadership team of McNally, Johnson, Yager; Registry presses pause on auditing Gary Humble; and digital ads target state’s certificate-of-need rules.
— From the courts: Justice Sharon Lee’s retirement from Supreme Court unleashes speculation about who will apply to succeed her.
Also: Dolly Parton lands $100 million prize, Jonathan Skrmetti says level of federalist view often depends on who controls White House, watchdog files FEC complaint against Beth Harwell, and the Showboats are back in Memphis.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
Trump-endorsed Lee says vaguely critical things about Trump style
Gov. Bill Lee was endorsed for re-election by former President Donald Trump in August 2021, which might have gone a long way toward dissuading a major primary challenge.
But when Trump was announcing a renewed bid for president at his West Palm Beach, Fla., home on Tuesday, Lee was 170 miles away at a meeting of the Republican Governor’s Association in Orlando. Several elected leaders at the RGA meeting blamed Trump for the GOP’s disappointing showing last week’s congressional elections.
“Our children learn a lot by what we say and what we do. And they especially mimic and learn by how we treat other people,” The Washington Post quoted Lee as saying at one panel discussion. “And there is not much inspiring about the way we treat people in politics.”
Lee reportedly argued a return to a “degree of civility” would “inspire a group of voters” to vote for Republicans.
Here’s what Trump had to say about Lee in announcing his endorsement through his PAC last year:
Governor Bill Lee is an outsider who led the Great State of Tennessee through difficult times, without compromising his Conservative Values. Tennesseans enjoy more freedom than ever before. He fully supports Law Enforcement, Strong Borders, the Second Amendment, our Military and our Vets. Re-electing Bill Lee means putting America first. Bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement!
McNally nominated to another two-year term as Senate speaker
The Senate Republican Caucus has nominated Randy McNally to another term as speaker.
McNally, a retired Oak Ridge pharmacist, first succeeded former Speaker Ron Ramsey in 2017. Some at the time saw him as a transitional figure, but he has since consolidated his leadership position in the upper chamber.
McNally served four terms in the state House before his first election to the Senate in 1986. He is a former chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
The full Senate will officially vote on the speaker in January. But with Republicans holding a 27-6 advantage, it’s largely considered a formality.
