Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Nominations of William J. Renick, Adam Wade White, and Joe H. Ritch to be Members of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority

406 Dirksen
Wed, 07 Sep 2022 18:30:00 GMT

Witnesses:
  • Willliam J. Renick, Nominee to be Member of the Board of Directors, Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Adam Wade White, Nominee to be Member of the Board of Directors, Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Joe H. Ritch, Nominee to be Member of the Board of Directors, Tennessee Valley Authority

Bill Renick is serving as the chair of the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi. Until last summer, the 68-year-old Renick served as director of the workforce division for the Northeast Mississippi-based Three Rivers Planning and Development District. Renick was elected to the Ashland Board of Aldermen at age 18 and later served as mayor. He also served on the Benton County Board of Supervisors and in the state Senate. Renick was chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Eddie Briggs in the 1990s and later as chief of staff for Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. Renick also was a hospital administrator.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., recommended Kentucky’s Lyon County Judge-Executive Adam Wade White. In 2013, White helped rally support for the Freedom to Fish Act, which was renewed in 2018 and signed by both Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. This came about as a response to learning about the proposed closing of fishing below 10 dams on the Cumberland River, which White knew would devastate the local economy. In 2018, White began what many refer to as the “War on Carp,” when he focused his efforts on removing Asian Carp that were having a negative impact on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, both natural resources and tourist draws.

Previously nominated by former President Barack Obama, Huntsville lawyer Joe Ritch served on the TVA board from 2013 to 2017, including a four-year tenure as board chair. He was the first Alabamian to serve as TVA board chair.