[Senate Hearing 116-407]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 116-407
HEARING ON THE NOMINATION OF CHARLES
W. COOK, JR. TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TENNESSEE
VALLEY AUTHORITY
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HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON CLEAN AIR
AND NUCLEAR SAFETY
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
DECEMBER 9, 2020
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
63-803 WASHINGTON : 2026
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COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming, Chairman
JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware,
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia Ranking Member
KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
MIKE BRAUN, Indiana BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont
MIKE ROUNDS, South Dakota SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon
JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York
ROGER WICKER, Mississippi CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
RICHARD SHELBY, Alabama EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
JONI ERNST, Iowa TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland
Richard M. Russell, Majority Staff Director
Mary Frances Repko, Minority Staff Director
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Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
MIKE BRAUN, Indiana, Chairman
JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island,
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia Ranking Member
KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
MIKE ROUNDS, South Dakota BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon
JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York
ROGER WICKER, Mississippi CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
JONI ERNST, Iowa EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming (ex officio) TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware (ex
officio)
C O N T E N T S
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Page
DECEMBER 9, 2020
OPENING STATEMENTS
Wicker, Hon. Roger F., U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi 1
Braun, Hon. Mike, U.S. Senator from the State of Indiana......... 2
Whitehouse, Hon. Sheldon, U.S. Senator from the State of Rhode
Island......................................................... 3
WITNESS
Cook, Charles W., Jr., Nominee to be a member of the Board of
Directors, Tennessee Valley Authority.......................... 4
Prepared statement........................................... 7
Responses to additional questions from:
Chairman Braun........................................... 10
Ranking Member Whitehouse................................ 10
Senator Sanders.......................................... 11
HEARING ON THE NOMINATION OF CHARLES W. COOK, JR. TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety,
Washington, DC.
The committee, met, pursuant to notice, at 9:45 a.m. in
room 106, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Mike Braun
(chairman of the committee) presiding.
Present: Senators Braun, Whitehouse, Boozman, Wicker,
Ernst, Carper.
Senator Braun. Good morning. This hearing of the Clean Air
and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee is called to order.
Today we will be hearing from Bill Cook, whom President
Trump has nominated to the Board of Directors of the Tennessee
Valley Authority. Mr. Cook, I would like to welcome you here
today. If confirmed, you will be tasked with ensuring that the
TVA's broad strategy goals and objectives are adequate for
ratepayers in the region, and that TVA pursues an agenda that
is in the best interests of the United States.
This morning we are honored to be joined by Senator Wicker,
who wanted to be here today to introduce the President's
nominee. Senator Wicker, you may proceed.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ROGER F. WICKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Senator Wicker. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Fellow members of the EPW committee, it is my great
privilege and honor today to introduce and enthusiastically
endorse Charles William ``Bill'' Cook of Oxford, Mississippi,
to serve on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valle
Authority.
TVA is very important to the entire Nation, because it is
our largest public utility. It is especially important to my
home State of Mississippi. In fact, my hometown of Tupelo,
Mississippi, is proudly known as America's first TVA city. One
of our most iconic landmarks is the sign at the crosstown
intersection which proudly proclaims that.
TVA utilities are located in 36 of Mississippi's 82
counties and serve more than 346,000 households in our State.
The service area covers 15,500 square miles, about one-third of
the entire State and about 18 percent of TVA's territory.
TVA has made significant contributions to my State's
economic development. Between 2015 and 2020, TVA created or
maintained nearly 25,000 jobs in Mississippi and invested $3.4
billion in our economy. TVA's partnerships with customers and
communities have helped produce quality jobs and sizable
investments in new and existing companies in Mississippi, like
Cooper Tire and Steel Dynamics.
TVA's innovative programs and financial support have been
crucial during the pandemic. This year, TVA has provided $1
billion in credit support to local power companies to make sure
the lights could stay on for ratepayers across the valley. In
the current year, TVA even lowered their rates. It also created
the Community Care Fund to support non-profits assisting local
communities during the pandemic. Through this program, TVA has
matched $340,000 to aid families and businesses in Mississippi
during this difficult period.
TVA's ability to adapt and deploy powerful tools is a
testament to their commitment to improving the lives of
residents across the Tennessee Valley.
Which brings me to today's business: I wholeheartedly
support President Trump's nomination of Bill Cook for this
position. He brings a wealth of private sector experience that
would serve him well and serve us well on the TVA Board of
Directors. Having spent 30 years in the telecommunications and
broadband infrastructure industry, Mr. Cook understands the
resources that communities need to prosper in the 21st century.
He currently serves as President of Cook Consulting in
Oxford, Mississippi. Cook Consulting provides guidance on
telecommunications issues. He has acquired a wide range of
expertise, having served as a senior director of engineering
and construction, director of project management, vice
president of network development, and CEO for various companies
throughout his career. He knows what he is doing, and when he
speaks up as a member of the TVA Board, people will understand
that he knows what he is talking about. His experience will
provide TVA with an invaluable perspective.
I want to congratulate Bill on his nomination, and look
forward to working with him and with you, Mr. Chairman, and
other members of this committee, to confirm him, I hope, before
the end of the month.
Thank you, again, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity and
taking me out of order to introduce my good friend, Mr. Cook,
to the committee. Thank you, sir.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE BRAUN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA
Senator Braun. Thank you, Senator Wicker.
Today, we are reviewing the nomination of Mr. Cook to be a
member of the Board of the TVA. Mr. Cook brings with him a long
career developing broadband infrastructure in both urban and
rural areas. In a State like Indiana, which does not have the
footprint of TVA there, Kentucky does, south of us, broadband
is probably the issue I hear most for rural States. It is a
skill set that is particularly relevant today as the Country
continues to recover from the economic consequences of COVID-19
and as Congress looks at ways to address the underlying
economic disparities brought to the forefront this year.
TVA is an organization created to provide for and help
stimulate general economic development in the Tennessee Valley.
While the agency was largely successful at achieving its core
mission, history shows that without clear objectives and a
board pursuing innovation, the TVA could fall behind,
negatively impacting its ratepayers and the Nation. It is the
responsibility of the TVA Board of Directors to set these goals
and objective for the agency.
In previous hearings, I have noted my desire to see the TVA
continue to serve its dual mandate, a utility representing the
people of the Tennessee Valley and for investment in innovation
for the Nation as a whole. In many cases, the TVA is achieving
this mission. For example, just this year, the utility secured
the Nation's first early site permit for an advanced nuclear
reactor at the utility's Clinch River site. I am on another
subcommittee of this committee as well, that has actually
talked about that. That may be the baseload generator of the
future. We need to see that the TVA has led the way on that.
Advanced nuclear technology is a principal bipartisan
interest of this subcommittee and the EPW committee as a whole.
Just last week, the full committee approved the American
Nuclear Infrastructure Act, a bill designed to, among other
things, capitalize on the investments TVA has already made, and
to provide Federal support for commercialization of this next
generation technology. I think a lot hinges upon it, and TVA is
at the forefront.
Mr. Cook, I look forward to working with you to advance
America's investment in advanced nuclear technology.
Before I conclude, I want to briefly mention one of the
challenges TVA has recently faced. As you know, in August,
President Trump removed two board members after the utility
announced a plan to replace American workers with foreign
contractors. Many of these foreign workers were applying under
H1B visas. The President met with some of the workers whose
jobs would be terminated. In that meeting, he stated clearly
that H1Bs should be used for top, highly paid talent to create
American jobs, not as an inexpensive labor program to replace
American jobs.
I wholeheartedly agree with the President's sentiment and
look forward to working with you to ensure that the TVA is
representing both the interests of the Tennessee Valley and the
U.S. as a whole.
Now I would like to recognize Ranking Member Senator
Whitehouse for his opening statement. He comes to us via Zoom.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE,
U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Senator Whitehouse. Thanks, Chairman Braun. Thank you for
chairing this hearing, and thank you for your kind words about
our American Nuclear Innovation Act, which I hope we can get
passed into law like the two previous nuclear innovation bills
we have worked on in this committee.
Thank you, Mr. Cook, for being here, for being willing to
take this position. Thank you, Senator Wicker, for a wonderful
introduction, and also for your help getting our anti-doping
bill passed into law just a few days ago.
I admire the good work of the Nation's largest public
utility. Throughout the pandemic and through its economic
fallout, the Tennessee Valley Authority has worked hard to help
customers purchase cheaper and cleaner energy during a
challenging time.
Earlier in 2020, the TVA grid managed to provide reliable,
low-cost power without any of its coal plants running. In
August, the Authority took another important step by
establishing a $200 million pandemic relief credit aimed at
shrinking utility bills for customers across the region. Today,
thanks to the Authority's decreased reliance on coal power,
nearly two-thirds of the area's energy comes from carbon-free
sources.
I would like to emphasize two important points in our
discussion here today. First, the Authority must remain a non-
partisan and independent regulator. Any nominee confirmed to
the Board must be guided by the facts and the interests of
TVA's ratepayers, not political or special interest pressure. I
hope to hear a strong commitment from our nominee that his
regulatory decisions would reflect those priorities.
Second, I want to hear a commitment from the nominee that
he will work to ensure that the Authority will not fall victim
to the fossil fuel industry's long campaign against climate
action and clean air regulations. As the Nation's largest
public utility, providing electricity to nearly 10 million
Americans, the Authority must continue to lead the push toward
clean, inexpensive, reliable, and renewable energy in our
Country.
Mr. Cook, you are a lover of the outdoors. The example of
your educator grandparents should provide you good direction in
this new role. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you, Chairman.
Senator Braun. Thank you, Senator Whitehouse.
Mr. Cook, I will now recognize you for 5 minutes for your
opening statement. I want to remind you that your full written
testimony will be part of the record. You may proceed.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES W. COOK, JR., NOMINEE TO BE A MEMBER OF
THE BOARD, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Mr. Cook. Thank you. Chairman Braun, Ranking Member
Whitehouse, and members of the committee, my name is Charles
William Cook, also Bill Cook.
I am extremely honored to have been nominated by President
Trump to serve on the board of directors of the Tennessee
Valley Authority. I would like to thank Senator Wicker, Senator
Hyde-Smith from my home State of Mississippi, who not only
recommended me to the President but have been extremely
supportive throughout this process.
Also I want to thank my family, friends, and business
associates, past and present, who have been extremely
supportive and are watching this hearing today.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small town in north
Mississippi, where I was taught values and an exceptional work
ethic. As I earned my rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts
of America in Bruce, Mississippi, I developed a love for the
outdoors, the necessity for service within my community, and an
appreciation of sound leadership. During the years since, I
have spent many days boating on the Tennessee River and hiking
through forests and trails along its banks.
My paternal grandparents were educators, and they instilled
in me a strong sense of conservation, to seek knowledge and
truth, to keep and open mind and to always apply myself. Thus,
I owe my successes in life to my family and to my community.
I often recall elder family members telling me stories
about how vital the Tennessee Valley Authority is to the
region. It was because of the TVA's affordable electricity,
environmental stewardship, and its commitment to economic
development that all resulted in such a positive impact on the
successes of the region.
My entire career has been developing, building, and
operating telecommunications infrastructure. I have secured
rights of ways in real eState, negotiated contracts, designed,
constructed, and operated networks in most of the larger cities
in our great Country and throughout some of its most remote
areas.
About 9 years ago, I founded a company based in northern
Virginia, the world's largest data center market. As CEO of
SummitIG, I knot only executed on a vision of the future of
cloud connectivity, but I built an amazing team and network,
which is now one of the most unique pieces of digital
infrastructure in the world.
My management style is one of common sense, fiscal
responsibility, and commitment to customers through exemplary
customer service.
After being away from my home State for several years, I
made a decision to return to Mississippi just over 12 years
ago. Two of the primary drivers to return to my beloved State
were to be back among the people and cultures of the region,
and my commitment to service. I believe that if one has the
ability to serve, it is their duty to serve. Thus, it is an
honor to be considered for this position.
TVA is vital to the seven States it serves, and especially
with its commitment to affordable, reliable electricity, its
contributions to innovation and economic development.
Electrical infrastructure would be a key driver for future
development throughout the region and across our Country. As
technologies evolve and expand, the demand for reliable energy
will continue to grow at a rapid pace.
I strongly believe the Tennessee Valley Authority has a
unique opportunity to be a leader in creating solutions to meet
this demand and creating jobs throughout the region as part of
its role of economic development. With the growing needs for
digital infrastructure, including 5G deployments, bandwidth
connectivity, cloud computing, cyber security, data storage and
processing, and the emerging development of electric and
autonomous vehicles, TVA must continue its pursuit of
excellence as these demands and opportunities will drive key
areas of our economy.
TVA will play an important role in expanding the necessary
infrastructure to deliver these services. I have been outspoken
in the telecommunications industry, stating that electrical
infrastructure and corridors are ideal for expanding broadband
services.
The mission of TVA to harness the potential of the rich
resources of the Tennessee Valley region to make life better
for its residents is especially needed today, as it was when
the TVA was created nearly nine decades ago. As a
Mississippian, I embrace this mission.
Through collaboration of industry and education, TVA is in
a prime position to meet the growing demands of tomorrow,
making communities within the region prosper and enjoyable.
Balance is the key to success. TVA has a balanced portfolio of
power generation capabilities, and must continue its pursuit of
innovation.
If confirmed, I will immediately commit to work with other
board members, TVA's management to provide strategic direction,
drive for continued fiscal accountability, and maintain focus
on affordable rates, values, and efforts necessary to operate
the complex demands and future needs of the entities and those
it serves.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward
to answering your questions.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Cook follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator Braun. Thank you, Mr. Cook.
Before we have members asking questions, I have to ask you
these routine questions. Do you agree, if confirmed, to appear
before this committee or designated members of this committee,
and other appropriate committees of the Congress, and provide
information subject to appropriate and necessary security
protection, with respect to your responsibilities?
Mr. Cook. Yes, I do.
Senator Braun. Do you agree to ensure that testimony,
briefings, documents, and electronic and other forms of
information are provided to this committee and its staff, and
other appropriate committees of jurisdiction in a timely
manner?
Mr. Cook. Yes, I do.
Senator Braun. Do you know of any matters which you may or
may not have disclosed that might place you in any kind of
conflict of interest if you are confirmed?
Mr. Cook. No, I do not.
Senator Braun. Thank you. I appreciate the responses.
I will now recognize myself for 5 minutes of questions. As
I noted during my opening statement, the Tennessee Valley
Authority serves a dual mandate, operating not only as a
utility for the people of the Tennessee Valley, but also as a
hub for investment and innovation. Electrical infrastructure
has long been important to fostering new development
opportunities, not only in the Tennessee Valley, but across the
U.S.
As you mentioned in your testimony, this is especially true
today, as society becomes more dependent on next generation
digital infrastructure. As a 30-year veteran of the
telecommunications and broadband infrastructure industries, how
do you believe TVA should prepare to meet these new demand
opportunities for residents of the Tennessee Valley? Weight in
a bit on what you are seeing in rural Tennessee and in the TVA
footprint in terms of how broadband is progressing.
Mr. Cook. Certainly, thank you.
I certainly believe that the economy of today will not be
the economy of tomorrow. I think it is very important that the
TVA continues with its innovative efforts to capitalize on
investments that it has made, and continue to make additional
investments in the area of not only the production of
electricity but also in other aspects of distribution and
transmission of the same.
With regard to broadband, broadband has become an essential
service, just like electricity. While a lot of areas have
broadband, there are even more areas, certainly rural and
remote areas, that lack broadband connectivity. As I stated in
my opening statement, I believe the electric utility corridors
are some of the best infrastructure for being able to enable
broadband. You have a core set of service that is already
there, and it is very difficult to get private capital to go
and build and not understand what the exact return on the
investment would be. I see broadband as being an essential
service today.
Senator Braun. Have you found that your REMCs in and around
the area, is there development within the TVA footprint already
on broadband? Or are you basically starting from scratch like
many rural areas are?
I know in Indiana, we have several counties and electric
utilities that are two to 3 years into it and making good
progress.
Mr. Cook. Yes. We are starting to see the electric
cooperatives, certainly in Mississippi, start to make some of
those investments. I think it is wise, and I think that over
time, there should be encouragement and collaboration from TVA
with those electrical cooperatives to enhance their offering.
Senator Braun. I think you are going to find, especially
with the largest utility in the Country, that is the No. 1
issue challenging rural America, maybe along with work force
development. Earlier, I asked you about the role of electrical
infrastructure, how it plays into economic development. Last
month, this important relationship was made evident when TVA
announced a partnership with Origis Energy to supply renewable
solar power to two Google data centers in the TVA footprint
through its Green Invest Program.
Before starting your own consulting firm in Mississippi,
you spent nearly 7 years as CEO of SummitIG, a network
solutions company that works to extend data center connectivity
in one of our Nation's largest data center hubs. How might you
leverage your experience in the data infrastructure industry to
further TVA's efforts to attract companies seeking to meet
sustainability goals?
Mr. Cook. Thank you. While the TVA region is vast, as you
know, it has some of the best, lowest power rates in the entire
Nation. I think the companies that live and thrive and operate
in the world of data centers should be taking a much closer
look at the TVA region for placing their facilities. It
provides an enormous amount of economic development to the
area. I believe that connecting those facilities, both with
critical infrastructure being electric power and broadband
connectivity, TVA is poised to really make a difference, both
for those companies and for the region that it serves.
Senator Braun. Good. I think the Nation will be watching.
I now recognize Senator Whitehouse for his questions.
Senator Whitehouse. Thank you, Chairman. Again, Mr. Cook,
thank you, and welcome to our committee.
The TVA has shown that it can continue to shut polluting
resources while cutting energy costs go down, and seeing the
liability maintained. At the same time, the local community,
through the Nashville Carbon Competitiveness Report, has urged
that if TVA does not push hard on reducing emissions and
renewable energy, that it will put Nashville at a competitive
disadvantage in years ahead. On a third front, you have major
utilities like Duke, Dominion, Xcel, Southern Company, and
National Grid, setting net zero emissions targets.
What do those three things tell you about the role for
renewables in TVA's future?
Mr. Cook. Definitely, renewables are part of the future.
There is no doubt about it. It seems that TVA has made strides
with developing some of these renewable sources for generating
electricity. To your point, I believe that more has to be done
in the future.
Senator Whitehouse. Chairman Braun and I have worked
together on nuclear innovation issues. One of the reasons that
we are working hard on this issue is that there is really no
mechanism we have right now for disposing of nuclear waste. TVA
has three nuclear facilities that have spent nuclear fuel
sitting at those facilities.
As we work on developing nuclear innovation and next
generation nuclear power plants, there are two ways we can go.
We can focus on technologies that require the creation of new
nuclear fuel, and create new nuclear waste, or we can focus on
technologies that promise to repurpose the existing nuclear
waste and turn it into positive fuel and carbon free energy.
I am hoping that in your role on the board, if these
decisions come before you, you will understand the added value
of nuclear innovation technologies that give us the chance to
burn through and re-use the nuclear waste, rather than just
have it sit there and where it's actually added to that pile.
Could you comment on that?
Mr. Cook. Senator, I find that fascinating, with the use of
nuclear energy and how it is produced. If I am confirmed, I
look forward to getting more educated on nuclear power and
nuclear waste. To your point, with regard to what happens with
that waste, I think there has to be a balance. I think the
process today for which nuclear waste is disposed, but that is
part of the opportunity for TVA, to come up with that
innovation with what to do with that waste.
Senator Whitehouse. Yes. The process right now is that it
sits at your facilities. If it could be repurposed, that would
be an entirely new opportunity. I urge you to bear that in mind
as a priority, not only as a general purpose priority, but also
a specific way to help TVA deal with the nuclear waste that is
sitting on its sites right now.
Mr. Cook. You have my commitment.
Senator Whitehouse. Thank you. Will you commit to making
regulatory decisions that are best for TVA ratepayers to not
being influenced by political pressure when making regulatory
decisions, and to supporting the safety of the natural world in
your decisions on which we all depend?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Senator Whitehouse. Thank you, Mr. Cook. Those are all the
questions I have. I yield back to the Chairman.
Senator Braun. Thank you, Senator Whitehouse.
Senator Carper.
Senator Carper. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Cook, welcome. I enjoyed talking with you earlier this
week. Thank you for joining us today.
My wife and I are the parents of two Eagle Scouts, and we
revere what they have learned in that role about service and
about this planet that God has given us and the obligation to
protect it and the creatures that inhabit it.
Mr. Chairman, I am going to be real honest with you and our
colleagues. This nine-member panel, this important nine-member
panel, there are currently five with the dismissal by the
President recently of two sitting members of the panel, there
are now five people serving on the panel. We have two nominees
we have reported out, I think they are awaiting Senate action,
nominated by this President. We have Mr. Cook, and we have
another nominee that we have recently received. If they are all
confirmed, we will have nine members of the panel, all
nominated by Donald Trump, all nine. There is no requirement
for any kind of political balance on this panel. I think there
should be.
We have a number of panels, in the Federal Government and
also in State government, where there must be a majority of no
more than, say, of either party. I am just concerned; I am
concerned with a utility this large having all nine members of
the board overseeing the utility nominated by a President who
is dismissive of the idea of climate change and global warming.
That is a troubling factor for me. It does not disparage at all
Mr. Cook or his abilities and capabilities. I find it
troubling.
Mr. Cook, with that as a little bit of context, as you
noted before, President Trump supposedly cared about the labor
work force at TVA when he fired two TVA board members for plans
to outsource information technology jobs to workers outside
this Country.
I would just ask, with that in mind, before being
nominated, were you asked about your views on outsourcing? Did
you take a pledge to keep TVA union jobs within the State of
Tennessee by this Administration?
Mr. Cook. I was not. I was not asked, there was no prior
conversations with the Administration whatsoever regarding
really anything.
Senator Carper. Thank you. If you did not offer or take
such a pledge, could you pledge for us today to vote against
outsourcing TVA jobs and to support local union workers?
Mr. Cook. Most likely, I would want to do what is in the
best interests of the TVA if confirmed, with other board
members, and recommendations of the management.
Senator Carper. I have said this, my colleagues will verify
I have said this time and time again, TVA is expected to be a
leader, an industry leader, when it comes to clean energy,
energy efficiency, and to safety. Good progress has been made
toward that goal. Last year, TVA reported it was on target to
reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent from 2005 by 2030. Yet
today only 3 percent of its portfolio comes from wind and solar
energy.
I would just challenge TVA to go further, both on
investments in renewable energy and on carbon reduction. This
is really a yes or no questions, but if confirmed, do you
commit to continuing clean energy investments and ensuring TVA
is a national leader in technological innovation and
environmental stewardship?
Mr. Cook. Yes, I do.
Senator Carper. Thank you. If confirmed, what is one thing,
just give us an example of one thing that you would do to
ensure that TVA invests in cleaner air, clean renewable energy,
and energy efficiency. Give us one good example.
Mr. Cook. Certainly. Well, as a resident of the TVA region,
clean air, clean water, are very important to me and to my
family, and I believe all the others within the TVA, including
visitors who visit the area. I think that some of the renewable
technologies continue to evolve, particularly with solar power.
As we have seen with recent installments to support the Google
facility, I think TVA must continue its record of innovation
and come up with additional innovative ways to not only support
one customer, but to be able to push that throughout its grid.
Senator Carper. Let's go back and talk a bit more about
climate change if we could. I do not know if you have ever been
to Delaware. Delaware was the first State to ratify the
Constitution. We are real proud of that. We just commemorated
that anniversary on Monday of this week, December 7th, Delaware
Day.
We are also the lowest-lying State in America. Our State is
sinking and the waters around us are rising. That is not a good
combination. Federal agencies continue to make dire reports
about the threat posed by climate change. We see it every day
in my State. Last year, the Government Accountability Office,
known as GAO, issued its High Risk List on risks to our
Nation's economy. The GAO reported this Administration is
walking away from the growing threat of climate change and we
will be poorer for it. Specifically, GAO found that this
Administration's actions, such as revoking former President
Obama's Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, and this is a
quote from GAO, ``potentially increases the Federal
Government's fiscal exposure to climate change.''
My question would be, do you agree with the conclusions of
the issued Fourth National Climate Assessment and GAO's reports
that State our economy is at risk if we do not take action to
address climate change? If not, why not?
Mr. Cook. Senator, I have not read that report, and I am
unsure of the findings of it. I am happy to look into that, and
report back to you. Yes, I do believe in climate change, and I
think that there is responsibility and accountability by TVA
and all others to take this matter seriously.
Senator Carper. Thank you. I will say with respect to
climate change, some people here have termed global warming, I
can think of one in particular, who when he thinks of it, he
thinks the word hoax. Hoax. I can think of another person, soon
to be President of the United States, when he hears the term
global warming, the one thing he thinks of is jobs. We have
discussed many times in this committee, in adversity lies
opportunity, and the adversity of climate change and global
warming is actually a great opportunity to create jobs, good-
paying jobs. I would ask that you keep that in mind.
Last question would be on coal ash. Do I have any more
time? I am actually over my time, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Braun. Go ahead.
Senator Carper. Thanks so much.
According to TVA's own reporting, the 7 million tons of
coal ash that were spilled in 2008 from the Kingston Fossil
Plant contained high levels of toxic heavy metals that are
known to cause cancer, liver damage, and neurological
complications, among other health problems. A Federal jury in
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
found that the contractor used by TVA to clean up the Kingston
coal ash spill, Jacobs Engineering Group, did not adhere to
worker safety or health requirements, potentially causing
sickness and death. During the trial, there was troubling
testimony from workers that called into question TVA's conduct
during and after the cleanup efforts.
Here is my question. If confirmed, will you commit to us to
ensuring TVA will be a good actor and be transparent to the
employees and their families that are impacted by this
particular issue? Will you commit for us to ensuring that TVA's
employees and those contracted by TVA do work in a safe
environment at all times? Will you commit for us, please, to
doing all you can to ensure that TVA cleans up its current coal
ash sites?
Mr. Cook. Yes, I will.
Senator Carper. Thank you very much. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Braun. Thank you, Senator Carper.
It is certainly not without precedent for the entirety of
the TVA board to be appointed by one President. President Obama
nominated a total of 14 persons to the TVA during his
presidency. Further, from 2012 to 2017, a period of 5 years,
the entirety of the TVA board was made up of nominees appointed
by President Obama. The Senate EPW committee approved every
single one of his nominees by unanimous consent.
Senator Braun. Not to end on a point-counterpoint, I want
to maybe assuage the concerns of Senator Carper. I really do
believe we have crossed a threshold. I was part of it a year
ago when we started the first Senate Climate Caucus. I am a
fellow Eagle Scout, earned it back in high school, started an
ecology club back then. It was so popular we had two of them.
Very anecdotal, but look where it does lead someday.
I think the concern about the health of Mother Nature is
broad and growing. You can see that in the short time, we have
two bipartisan bills, the Growing Climate Solutions Bill, that
helps tree farmers and egg farmers actually capitalize on
voluntary markets out there. Chris Coons and I have sponsored
the Trillion Trees Act. May be low-hanging fruit, but I think
we are on the journey to changing the dynamic that has been in
place.
Whether you are going to take maybe more of a government
approach or whether you are going to tap the ingenuity and
enterprise of the private sector through innovation and
technology, it is clear that we are going into a new dimension.
It sounds like you do reflect that concern. For me, it is
something to look at with optimism.
Any other questions from any members? Seeing none, members
may also submit followup written questions for the record by 4
p.m. on Friday, December 11th. The nominee should respond to
those questions by 4 o'clock on Thursday, December 17th, if
there are any questions.
I want to thank you for your willingness to appear before
this subcommittee today. I enjoyed the conversation.
This hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:25 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
[all]