President Biden names Memphis City Council member to Tennessee Valley Authority Board

Katherine Burgess, Memphis Commercial Appeal
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U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated a Memphis City Councilwoman to the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Patrice Robinson, who has served on the council since 2016 and terms out this year, previously was on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board for 13 years. On the Council, she has chaired the Memphis Light, Gas and Water committee.

The nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Robinson worked for MLGW before retiring as a supervisor.

U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen applauded the nomination in a statement, saying Robinson “has a lifetime of experience in utility management and public service and is the ideal candidate for the TVA Board.”

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“I am happy to see a Memphian again appointed to the board … since MLGW is TVA’s largest customer,” Cohen said. “I look forward to following her stewardship of this important regional public utility.”

Robinson’s appointment comes not long after the MLGW board rejected a 20-year rolling contract with TVA. Instead, the board voted that the city would stay on its evergreen contract with the federally-owned electric utility. Memphis is TVA’s largest customer.

In a written statement, Robinson said she was "deeply honored and genuinely delighted" to receive the nomination.

"My unwavering passion for the field of energy has been cultivated over the course of my extensive professional and political career, and I am profoundly eager to advocate for my community on this significant platform," she said. "An opportunity such as this allows for more visibility to the City of Memphis and its concerns on a broader level, and I am beyond grateful to be a liaison for this great region."

Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: President Biden names Memphis City Council member to TVA Board