Kingsport is unique in that it doesn't have a local Cooperative providing its power. It has a tariff with AEP. For this relationship to be successful the city needs full assurance that AEP has a plan to address the growing energy needs. As ICE (Internal Combustion Engines) are phased out we will need our electrical grid, energy creation, and storage capabilities to expand. Both Telsa and Toyota have identified that our existing electrical infrastructure cannot support a full move to electric. What are we doing in Kingsport to get ready?

AEP's tariff limits residential solar production to 10KW. This limit needs to be removed as it hinders those households that need above 10kw from offsetting their energy use 100% with a renewable.

Transportation will be an important part of Kingsport's future. Kingsport does have a plan that was created in 2017. Like any plan, this will need to be updated for changes that are coming. Kingsport is already looking at up-fitting KATS for Electronic purchasing and tracking of buses etc. However, self-driving technology and new protocols like V2V and V2I will need to be part of the cities vision.

A circular economy is an idea that you will reuse and recycle more and more of the items we use daily. Therefore, creating a sustainable path forward.

Much of the generation that is coming of age, have reuse and recycling at the forefront of their daily thoughts. With Eastmans' innovation in this sector, Kingsport has a great opportunity to capitalize on the momentum, and national recognition, to attract vertically integrated businesses that will have synergies with this new model.