In the early 1980s, Chattanooga, Tennessee faced significant economic challenges as businesses were closing or moving operations offshore, leading to a nearly deserted downtown area after work hours. The Tennessee River, which had once been central to the city’s economy and character, no longer played a significant role in daily life. At this pivotal moment, civic leaders and residents came together in an ambitious public visioning process aimed at transforming Chattanooga into the best mid-sized city in America.
The Vision for Revitalization
Civic leaders and residents in Chattanooga united with a bold goal to revitalize their city, resulting in a collaborative effort that led to various initiatives, particularly emphasizing the re-connection of the city to its riverfront. A cornerstone of these rejuvenation efforts was the establishment of the Tennessee Aquarium along the downtown riverfront. This project marked a crucial step in re-engaging the community and fostering a sense of pride and economic opportunity. While the initial projects concentrated on downtown redevelopment, the broader community embraced the vision to address a wide range of other issues facing Chattanooga.
Over the next three decades, the city experienced a wave of revitalization projects. In the early 2000s, EPB of Chattanooga, the city’s municipal electric utility, took a significant step by partnering with Hexagon AB, a global technology company, to initiate a transformative project. This project focused on the creation of a fiber-optic-based smart grid with the ambitious goal of providing every home and business within EPB’s 600-square-mile service territory with 1-GB-per-second internet service. This effort was a key part of Chattanooga’s goal of becoming “Gig City” by reinventing itself through innovation and technological advancement.
Building the Smart Grid
In the early 2000s, EPB began to explore ways to enhance the resilience and reliability of Chattanooga’s electric grid, starting with the initial plan to deploy over 1,000 automated switches across 600 square miles. Such an extensive deployment required a robust communication infrastructure, leading EPB to choose a smart grid built on a fiber-optic network capable of delivering reliable electricity and high-speed internet services.
In 2009, as the U.S. was entering the Great Recession, EPB embarked on its ambitious construction project, initially intended to take ten years. However, thanks to a $111.5 million grant from the Department of Energy, EPB was able to accelerate and complete the network in just two years. The result was a highly automated smart grid that became widely acknowledged as the most advanced in the U.S., serving as the backbone for the fastest community-wide internet service globally.
Immediate and Long-term Benefits
The completion of the smart grid brought both immediate and long-term benefits to Chattanooga. Hexagon’s technology facilitated the colocation of fiber and electric infrastructure, streamlining costs and minimizing disruption. EPB’s flexibility in upgrading network electronics allowed for progressive enhancements in internet speeds—from 1 GB in 2010, to 10 GB in 2015, and reaching 25 GB by 2022. This ensured cost-efficiency while also maintaining future preparedness for further technological advancements.
This innovative infrastructure enabled EPB to monitor and manage the grid effectively, optimizing both power and fiber operations. By 2022, more than 10,000 jobs had been created, and power outages had been reduced by 55%, saving customers roughly $55 million annually in avoided food spoilage, lost productivity, and other disruptions. Chattanooga’s smart grid fortified the city’s appeal to businesses and residents alike, drawing companies and high-paying jobs, thus transforming the city into a hub of innovation and economic growth.
Overcoming Challenges
Building Chattanooga’s smart grid was not without its challenges, as EPB encountered numerous technical and operational obstacles. Ensuring the system’s longevity beyond the initial construction phase required developing new systems and adapting existing ones to sustain the infrastructure. Deploying fiber and smart grid technology across urban, suburban, and remote rural communities also presented complex logistical challenges. Despite the lower profit margins in rural areas, EPB remained committed to ensuring that the entire 600-square-mile service area had access to high-speed internet, thereby closing the digital divide and promoting inclusivity.
A notable achievement of EPB’s efforts was the HCS EdConnect program, powered by EPB, which provides high-speed home internet free of charge to qualifying low-income students in Hamilton County Schools. Initially launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate home-based learning, this program now serves more than 16,000 students and nearly 28,000 residents, illustrating EPB’s dedication to addressing the community’s needs and ensuring equitable access to technological resources.
Economic and Social Transformation
Chattanooga’s smart grid and high-speed internet have yielded substantial economic and social benefits, attracting tech companies and high-paying jobs, and ultimately transforming the city into a center of innovation. Recognizing EPB’s contributions, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded over $110 million in Smart City research funding. EPB’s pioneering role earned Chattanooga the nickname “Gig City” and established it as the first U.S. city to offer community-wide 25-GB internet service in 2022.
Recently, EPB has continued to focus on grid resilience, launching microgrid installations and energy storage facilities at critical locations such as the Chattanooga airport and essential municipal buildings. These microgrids can isolate parts of the grid during outages, ensuring the maintenance of power even when the main grid is compromised. Furthermore, EPB’s investment in rural energy storage aims to enhance reliability, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to serving the entire service area and further solidifying Chattanooga’s status as a technologically advanced and resilient city.
Collaboration and Future Prospects
In the early 1980s, Chattanooga, Tennessee confronted severe economic difficulties. Many businesses were shutting down or relocating their operations overseas, leaving the city’s downtown area nearly deserted after working hours. The Tennessee River, once a vital part of Chattanooga’s economy and identity, had lost its importance in daily urban life. Facing these challenges, civic leaders and residents of Chattanooga decided to act. They initiated an ambitious public visioning initiative with the goal of reinventing Chattanooga as the best mid-sized city in America.
This effort involved a collaborative process where community members and leaders brainstormed and contributed ideas to revitalize the city. The plan aimed not only at economic revitalization but also at improving the overall quality of life for Chattanooga’s residents. They focused on leveraging the city’s natural assets, such as the Tennessee River, to create recreational and commercial opportunities.
The visioning process emphasized the importance of sustainable development, creating a vibrant urban core, and building a strong sense of community. By involving a broad spectrum of stakeholders, Chattanooga aimed to become a model of urban renewal and civic engagement. This innovative approach ultimately set the stage for Chattanooga’s transformation into a flourishing mid-sized city that boasts a thriving downtown, a renewed focus on its natural resources, and a strengthened community spirit.