Greeneville Energy Authority seeking funding for new projects

The Greeneville Energy Authority moves forward with a major infrastructure plan. GEA is seeking approval to issue $53 million in municipal bonds to fund three large-scale projects to improve services across Greene County. The funding would expand broadband access countywide, upgrade an aging substation in Tusculum and renovate GEA’s decades-old operations building along Highway 11-E. The Tusculum substation project involves replacing two aging transformers, impacting roughly 25% of more than 40,000 GEA customers. Broadband expansion aims to provide more accessible and reliable internet service. The third project focuses on modernizing GEA’s operations facility, improving workspace conditions, parking availability, and ADA accessibility for customers. Timelines for the projects vary. Broadband expansion is expected to take about three years, while warehouse upgrades could be completed within a year. The Tusculum substation project is projected for completion by 2027. GEA officials say they are now awaiting state approval to issue the bonds, with additional planning already underway