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Jennifer Thelen

Jennifer Thelen's articles and photos covering energy and innovation have taken her from deep inside Cherokee Dam to high above the coal yard at Kingston Fossil Plant. She has inspected transmission lines with a local power company in Mississippi and installed energy-saving gadgets with a sculptor in Middle Tennessee. Jennifer has worked at daily newspapers in the Midwest and California, most recently the San Francisco Chronicle. She enjoys nature, games, meditation and cooking food grown near her home in north Georgia.
Jennifer Thelen
Systems Operations Center operators keep the grid reliable

Driving the Bus

These TVA system operators are constantly on alert to synchronize electricity generation with customer demand.

Norm Flake

The Megawatt Mission

Winter preparedness teams harden freeze protection systems.

Thermostat

Cozy Cost-Savers for Cold Weather

TVA energy efficiency expert shares her family’s strategies.

Johnsonville Unit 18

A Milestone for Renewable Fuels

Renewable diesel test at TVA’s Johnsonville plant proves viability of environmentally friendly replacement for fossil fuels.

Helicopter and crew

Phone-A-Friend

When major storms strike, Duke and TVA can count on each other.

Attic insulation

What’s in Your Attic?

$500 insulation rebate helps homeowners lower bills and improve comfort.

Man pointing to house

Strong and Resilient

Nolichucky Dam and its neighbors begin recovery after epic flood.

Testing rope strength

The Rope Whisperer

Longtime TVA lineworker coordinates rope maintenance and repairs at new inspection facility.

Line worker in bucket lift

X-ray Vision

New scanning technology helps TVA line crews monitor health of transmission lines.

Holocene pilot facility

Scrubbing the Skies

Tennessee startup Holocene’s carbon-removal technology can help TVA reach its target of net-zero emissions.

Thrust bridge

Rebuilt for the People

The Hydro Life Extension program gives historic dams a new lease on life.

Drone hovering over gravel

A High-Flying Eye

TVA drones are helping local power companies accomplish faster, cheaper infrastructure scans.

Installing gasket

Artful Efficiency

Summer Nights Sweepstakes gives homeowners a chance to win outdoor movie theater prize pack.

Hot summer temperature sign in downtown Chattanooga

Smart Steps in a Heat Wave

Energy efficiency experts offer advice for staying cool and keeping electric bills under control.

Bernie Auld

Protecting the Public

TVA dam engineer sweats the small stuff, even moles, to keep structures safe.

Aaron Gordon

The Oil Change

Innovation contest winner upgrades transformer maintenance system.

Bee lands on flower

Powered for Summer

As warm weather arrives, TVA is ready to keep you cool and comfortable.

Taking photo with cell phone

Nature Counts

Record number of volunteers join BioBlitz on Raccoon Mountain hiking trails.

Drayton Myers and E.B. Slouka

Keeping the Fire Burning

TVA's coal plant operator training is a lot of work, but participants love it.

Kingston chimneys

Kingston Slated for Retirement

As TVA leaders shape the site's future, workers reflect on a proud legacy of service to the people of the region.