Tennessee Valley Authority

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945; served 1933–45) in 1933 as part of his New Deal reforms. He created it to provide electricity, development, and economic relief to the Appalachian Mountains region centered on Tennessee , which was struggling in the Great Depression . The TVA was set up to operate like an independent corporation. It is controlled and overseen, however, by a three-member board appointed by the U.S. president. Over time, it became a powerful business that created thriving communities and prosperity in the region.

Nebraska politician saw area's potential

The idea for establishing the Tennessee Valley Authority stemmed from a proposal by U.S. senator George Norris (1861–1944) of Nebraska . Knowing that the government had abandoned a hydroelectric power complex and munitions plant on the Tennessee River, Norris lobbied to revive the project to benefit the struggling local population. In the 1930s, the Tennessee River area was one of the poorest in the nation. Regular flooding, lack of electricity, and little opportunity to establish a livelihood prompted many people to leave the region.

The Great Depression, however, was making work difficult to find anywhere. If it worked, the TVA would provide many jobs in the region. President Roosevelt not only embraced Senator Norris's idea but saw an opportunity for a large government project. In 1933, Congress approved the creation of the TVA when it voted to pass the Tennessee Valley Authority Act.

Series of dams built

The TVA pursued several projects to restore the region. In an effort to control flooding, it began construction of multipurpose dams and reservoirs. Eventually, a system of forty-two dams was built in seven states. The dams generated hydroelectric power that was then sold directly to the residents of the region. Recreational areas for boating, camping, and fishing were developed around the reservoirs. Other projects of the TVA included agricultural education through demonstration farms, soil and land conservation, fertilizer research, and forestry development.

The efforts of the TVA helped the region to revive its economy. Cheap electricity attracted industry and produced more jobs. Improved navigation on the Tennessee River enabled shipping ports to be established. Instead of leaving the region to find work elsewhere, people were enticed to stay because of the booming economy. By the 1940s, an increased demand for electrical power led the TVA to build large steam-generating facilities. In 1959 the TVA program became self-financing, and by the 1960s, it was the nation's largest producer of electrical energy. The system today includes a total of twenty-nine hydroelectric dams on the Tennessee River and its tributaries. It is still the leading producer of electricity in the nation.