Stephen Anderson Smith

Early life and education

Smith was raised in Nashville and currently lives in Knoxville, TN. He graduated with a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor's degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College in biology. Smith volunteered as an environmental advocate while attending college and eventually left the veterinary field to focus on his passion - making a difference in how the southeast uses energy.

Political career

Smith ran for political office in 1996, running for Tennessee’s 2nd congressional district against long time Republican Jimmy Duncan. Although a predominantly Republican district, Smith was able to get the second highest percentage of votes of any of Duncan's democratic opponents with almost 30%.

The Tennessee Valley Authority runs a power plant near Knoxville, TN, where, in December of 2008, billions of gallons of coal ash were spilled. The toxic sludge covered 300 acres, destroyed three houses, and polluted a river. Due to the Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill, the Senate Environment and Public Works committee held a hearing on the Tennessee coal ash spill asking Smith to testify. He testified that "The lack of regulation we have right now is unacceptable, and that is one of the reasons why this accident has happened."

Smith also helped lead Floridians 4 Lower Energy Costs to successfully pass a statewide solar initiative, Amendment 4, in August 2016. The victory led to a Florida Bill 90, which went before the Florida legislature in 2017. In May 2017, Bill 90 passed the Florida Senate with unanimous support, following unanimous approval from the Florida House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Scott. The tax exemption will apply for 20 years on solar and renewable energy devices.

In the November 2016 National Election, the state of Florida had a ballot measure, backed by the utilities which would have restricted the expansion of solar rooftop panels in the state. Smith and Floridians for Solar Choice led a grass-roots coalition to ultimately bring down the initiative that had $25 million in utility-company funding behind it. This coalition reached across party lines to join environmentalists, tea party free marketers, solar companies, and elected officials to defeat this deceitful amendment proposal.

Assignments

• Regional Energy Resource Council for the TVA

• Tennessee Valley – Renewable Energy Information Exchange

• Secretary of Energy’s Tennessee Valley Electric System Advisory Committee

• TVA’s Integrated Resource Plan Stakeholder Review Group • TVA’s Green Power Marketing Team • Regional Resource Stewardship Council

• Energy Vision 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Review Group

Initiatives

His current initiatives include pushing Florida to the number one position in rooftop solar, organizing energy efficiency initiatives for low income persons in Memphis, address nuclear risky activities and supporting clean energy legislators throughout the southeast.