Image courtesy of the City of Knoxville.

The City of Knoxville is updating its Bicycle Facilities Plan to align with the goals of the City's Vision Zero Action Plan. This effort will identify opportunities to improve bicycle connectivity across Knoxville, focusing on safety, comfort, and low-stress routes suitable for people of all ages and abilities. The updated plan will guide future investments in the bicycle network, helping to create a safer, more accessible transportation system. A survey is available for public comment here.  

The Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) plans to construct multiple new protected bike lanes in the city. Protected bike lanes separate bike riders from car lanes through a curb or barrier. The protected lanes will be located on Union Street, Woodland Street, South 5th Street, and South 10th Street. For additional information on protected bike lanes, view the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration’s Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide.

NDOT recently announced the launch of an Open Streets Program in partnership with Walk Bike Nashville to make it easier for Nashville residents to bring Open Streets to their neighborhoods. Open Streets events temporarily close streets to cars and other vehicles and allow people to use their neighborhood streets for community celebrations and activities. As part of Nashville’s Vision Zero initiative, NDOT and Walk Bike Nashville have created an Open Streets Toolkit with information and inspiration for Nashvillians to plan an Open Streets event, from permitting to community building. NDOT has made it free for residents to submit an Open Streets permit, and organizers can also check out approved traffic control materials, such as signs and cones, at no cost.

The University of Memphis’ Center for Information Assurance will host a workshop entitled Cybersecurity in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Memphis at the FedEx Institute of Technology on August 22. The workshop will include sessions on cyber-resilient EV charging infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity, and intelligent adaptive EV motion control for dynamic wireless charging.

The 2025 Nashville Sustainability and Resilience Workshop will be hosted on August 23 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Central in Nashville by Neighbor 2 Neighbor, Root Nashville, and the Nashville Department of Transportation’s Beautification & Environment Commission.  This interactive event will equip participants with the knowledge, resources, and tools to lead positive, sustainable change in their neighborhood. Topics will include tree planting, composting, and recycling, and the event will include resources from Metro departments, nonprofit partners, and environmental leaders.

The Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership (EVAL) certification program for workplace electric vehicle (EV) charging, supported by U.S. DOE, will host the Success Stories and Future Trends webinar on workplace charging on August 26 AT 2:00 PM Eastern. The webinar will showcase successful workplace charging implementations across various sectors and provide insights into future trends and innovations shaping the evolving landscape.

The EVAL program aims to assist, certify, and recognize employers and businesses committed to promoting transportation options for employees’ commutes to and from work. EVAL certifies employers based on various initiatives, including the provision of EV charging stations, options for carpooling, biking, public transportation, and incentives for sustainable commuting.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute and the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress will host the Chattanooga Connect 2025 conference from October 6 – 8. At the event, industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers will explore the latest advancements in policy, digital infrastructure, AI, connected and automated vehicles, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies, and quantum technologies. Attendees will learn about the transformative potential of quantum computing and quantum sensing in revolutionizing transportation. View the agenda here.

The 2025 Forth Roadmap Conference, an annual event that convenes leaders in the electric transportation space, will take place October 14-16 in Detroit, MI. The conference will allow attendees to forge relationships and gain valuable insights in a highly interactive format from industry and community leaders, including utilities, local governments, vehicle original equipment manufacturers, charging providers, technology startups, public interest groups, and communities. Sessions will focus on multiple topics, including vehicles, charging, community impact, and networking and connection opportunities.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will host the 2025 Governor’s Conference (GovCon) on November 4-5 in Murfreesboro. The event will bring together leaders from across the state to define what economic development means to communities. GovCon is the premier event for networking and collaboration, designed to elevate business, community, and rural development efforts across Tennessee.

The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) will host the annual Opportunities in Energy event on November 19 in downtown Knoxville. The event will bring together TNEAC members and stakeholders to discuss all new and upcoming “opportunities” in the advanced energy sector, including trends, businesses, technologies, and other exciting developments.

The 19th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo will be held in Nashville from March 31 to April 2, 2026. The event unites industry professionals from all sectors of the world’s interconnected biomass utilization industries: biobased power, thermal energy, fuels, and chemicals.

Organized by BBI International and produced by Biomass Magazine, this event brings current and future producers of bioenergy and biobased products together with waste generators, energy crop growers, municipal leaders, utility executives, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, project developers, investors, and policy makers. 

TDEC recently released its second solicitation for Light Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Supply Equipment projects under the Fast Charge TN Network grant program. This solicitation is funded through the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (EMT), the purpose of which is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. Under the current solicitation, $2.8 million in EMT funding is available for eligible projects.

This solicitation will support the continued development of the Fast Charge TN Network, building out direct current (DC) fast charging infrastructure at least every 50 miles along prioritized corridors. Applicants must commit to owning, operating, and maintaining grant-funded EV fast-charging infrastructure for at least five years following equipment procurement, delivery, installation, and commissioning. The charging infrastructure must be publicly accessible 24/7, 365 days of the year, and located within identified infrastructure gap areas.

TDEC hosted a mandatory application workshop webinar on July 14. The workshop was recorded and can be accessed on the Fast Charge TN Network webpage, tn.gov/EVfastcharge. Applicants must have attended the virtual application workshop or viewed the recording prior to application submission. The application workshop provides guidance on the application process and program terms and conditions, including project eligibility, timelines for implementation, and reporting requirements.

Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically via the TDEC online grants management system available at tdec.smartsimple.com. Applications must be received by September 12 at 4 PM Central.

The Company Lab (CO.LAB) is accepting applications for its Sustainable Mobility Accelerator. This opportunity is for startups revolutionizing the movement of people, goods, energy and data who are looking to gain funding, mentorship and access to a cutting-edge mobility ecosystem. Applications are open.

The Chevron Truck Demo Program provides no-cost, short-term demos of certain heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to qualified customers interested in exploring CNG. The demo can help customers experience how similar natural gas vehicles are to diesel vehicles in terms of drivability, power, and range, with a demo period of up to 18 days. The cost of the CNG fuel is also included with the truck demo. Learn more about the program here and contact Jared Rifenbary on how to get involved at jared.rifenbary@chevron.com. 

East Tennessee Clean Fuels and Drive Electric TN launched the Charging Smart Program in 2024 to accelerate EV adoption across Tennessee. This program is designed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) to support communities across Tennessee in the deployment of EV infrastructure. Funded by U.S. DOE, the program provides personalized, no-cost technical assistance and a nationally recognized designation system to help local governments align their policies with national best practices for EV adoption. Interested local governments in Tennessee can learn more and express their interest in participating by filling out the interest form available here.

The National Energy Foundation created rEV, an educational experience driving understanding around EV adoption. This program is designed to educate students on the benefits of EVs through a STEM-based curriculum, as well as introduce them to career opportunities in transportation electrification. After the experience, students and parents will understand the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of buying an EV.

Visit the TDEC Office of Energy Programs Website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/energy.

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

July 2025

June 2025

May 2025

For more information or to submit an idea for a future Monthly Transportation Edition, contact:

Audrey Jackson, Communications Officer
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-917-6683 or audrey.jackson@tn.gov

OR

Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, OEP Programs
U.S. DOE State Energy Program / Innovation & Transportation / Communications
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
 615-613-1096 or alexa.voytek@tn.gov

OR

Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst, TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-772-6011 or mark.finlay@tn.gov

Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-EE0009487

Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.  Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.