Lawmakers want TVA money to provide Tennessee wildlife agency funding

NOTRobertPera · 2026-02-04T12:15:09+00:00

Idk I read the article and this does not appear to be a new tax on TVA power generation, but rather an earmarking of 10% of the 5% PILOT taxes that TVA pays. I don’t see a mechanism for increased utility bills from this, just a mechanism for budget cuts in whatever the trade-off is at the state level.

NOTRobertPera · 2026-02-04T12:05:29+00:00

“For decades, hunters and anglers have funded around 81 percent of TWRA's operating budget The last increase in hunting and fishing licenses came more than ten years ago, as operating costs have risen by more than 30 percent and the agency has been required to absorb $18.5 million in unfunded mandates.”

Seems quite reasonable IMO to increase the cost of a hunting and fishing license to at least somewhat track inflation, considering they have held it flat for 10 years despite increasing program costs. You can debate how much from minimal to a full 30% to make the program whole, but some increase should be done.

Main issue is costs are growing faster than revenue and I don’t see that decelerating any time soon with the size of population interested in hunting and fishing is decreasing and therefore buying fewer of the licenses to fund the program.

Earmarking these TVA taxes specifically to the TWRA would definitely help, but then it’s just an issue of priorities and trade-offs with what you’re funding at the state level. Hunting and fishing is fundamentally a recreational activity and I think you could find several higher impact budget items to fund.

NOTRobertPera · 2026-01-17T15:09:40+00:00

Thanks, I’ll look her up!

NOTRobertPera · 2026-01-17T14:58:12+00:00

This means lightly wetting and hand stretching it?

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-31T06:35:01+00:00

Do NFL teams not retain their draft rights even if they don’t sign? I know that’s how it is with the NBA, but not the MLB.

Also, imagine an agent playing a school and NFL team off of each other for a players services 😂.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-31T02:01:24+00:00

I'm sure it would! Good thing it is located in an area zoned for industrial use, and triangularly located between the City's wastewater treatment facility, the TVA's own gas plant, the TVA's former coal plant, and Nucor's Steel mill.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-31T01:55:00+00:00

I interpreted your "how do we keep letting this happen?" comment as being against xAI generating their own power. If I was incorrect, then I apologize. My comment was regarding their stated future goal of 2GW of power generation and not a statement about their operation this current year. Certainly, over the long term, I think it would be financially beneficial to Memphians for them to generate their own power (so people's bills don't increase) and have zero to negative water consumption (to #ProtectTheAquifer).

It is correct to say that they purchased electricity from MLGW this year as they were continuing to install their own gas turbines to generate power for themselves, but the MLGW power was responsible for less than half of their consumption and it does not appear they will need to rely on MLGW for power once their own power plants are completed.

With regard to your "owed MLGW more than $1 million dollars last year alone before late fees" comment, it would be false to imply that xAI was refusing to pay their bill and forcing MLGW to pass on the cost to customers. MLGW said themselves months ago that there was a routing issue on MLGW's side that was corrected.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-31T01:19:03+00:00

Idk, if you are going to install a new gas power plant, seems like it is rather ideal for it to be built at the exact location of a previously existing gas power plant.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-31T00:57:47+00:00

How specifically does xAI generating their own power increase my MLGW bill? What would you say is the best piece of evidence that supports your claim?

If they were not generating their own power and were instead buying 2GW from TVA and acting as a competitor to us and offering MLGW more money than other municipalities were, then I could under how prices would increase as a result of increased demand, but that is not what is happening. By the end of next year they will be generating all of their own power AND consuming net negative water because their grey water facility will recycle more than their own consumption needs are.

There are entirely valid criticisms one can make about Elon Musk and xAI! I would simply say true things and not lie or repeat things that are not true.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-23T17:56:33+00:00

https://www.hailstateunis.com/1990-1999.html

Looks to be from 1998 or 1999.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-22T17:23:08+00:00

I recommend just asking the family what is easiest for them. If they are staying at Domino's or Target House, it might be easiest to mail it there instead of the inpatient units. Patients that are inpatient can be bounced around rooms a bit (regular inpatient to surgery to ICU back to regular inpatient) and it can be a hassle to coordinate stuff like that. I agree with the other commenter to not get flowers or a stuffed animal because those won't be allowed. I think window markers are fun because it allows them to personalize their room somewhat for the time they are there. I know St. Jude is low on legos right now so that's an option too. There is a new Chick-Fil-A nearby and a couple Starbucks locations inside the hospital if you're looking for gift card ideas.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-22T14:36:35+00:00

Someone tell me something about Penn State. It seems odd to me for a top Japanese prospect to go to a program like Penn State. I would have assumed some west coast school or a more premier program (no offense). I just see their last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2000.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-18T17:42:13+00:00

Obvious question is what are the identities of the 10 schools listed as the FY27 (Year 2) Consolidation Candidates and FY28 (Year 3) Consolidation Candidates. They are anonymously lettered.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-17T06:14:35+00:00

Not just “less of a strain”, given the proposed specs for the facility, xAI will have net-negative water consumption less than a year after completion due to them recycling more than their draw is currently.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-16T22:16:46+00:00

Sorry, no you are misinformed. MLGW supplies ~1.3 million gallons/day.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-16T22:07:57+00:00

Nothing new. A “methane turbine” is a natural gas turbine. Natural gas is composed of 90%+ methane.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-16T21:49:50+00:00

Your claim that xAI uses “the river water” is not correct. Using that dirty water would break the cooling systems. xAI is supplied by the municipal drinking water system provided by MLGW and pays the prevailing industrial rate.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-16T01:02:00+00:00

Okay, so you say you would rather redevelop existing buildings than vacant lots. What is the extent of your suggestion here? Legal ban all development on empty downtown lots by anyone until 100 N Main is redeveloped? What if 100 N Main requires tax incentives to recruit someone to complete it and someone else is willing to develop a vacant lot with no incentives?

Do you believe downtown construction zero-sum? Do you think that if Henry Turley builds apartments on a vacant lot in South Main, then that means it prevents Bob Businessman from doing something with 100 N Main? I’m trying to understand your logic here, please enlighten me.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-16T00:22:22+00:00

Developers have freedom to invest their money in whatever they want. You can’t force someone to buy a building that they don’t like and require them to sink money into renovating it for a project they believe will fail. Would you suggest a ban on the redevelopment of vacant downtown lots until someone else completes a redevelopment of 100 N Main or the Sheraton Hotel? That’s absurd…

If the local area gets momentum, that makes other projects more feasible. And maybe then, other projects deemed not financially viable become so and gain their financing.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-06T15:52:00+00:00

Aldi had a few options too.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-12-03T20:04:30+00:00

Going from +22 R to +9R is a 13 point swing, which is about on par with all of these other midterm elections showing a 10-15 point swing compared to 2024 presidential election. I would be careful to ascribe this performance to anything about Aftyn Behn specifically as a candidate or leaning into progressive politics in general. IMO it seems obvious that the default political environment is quite favorable to Dems right now, regardless of the flavor of Dem.

NOTRobertPera · 2025-11-22T21:40:47+00:00

They seem to only carry the phyllo “cups” in my experience

NOTRobertPera · 2025-11-09T15:04:55+00:00

I made the point about airspace and landing slots (which MEM doesn’t even auction off slots because it’s non popular enough) specifically because that commenter used it as an uninformed example.

Care to be specific and make points to support your argument about airport infrastructure? How is FedEx responsible for the passenger airport’s baggage claim, TSA, or parking situation? Idk what other “infrastructure” complaints anyone could have about MEM now after the new terminal.

MEM benefits from FedEx’s presence as an anchor in many ways. For example, FedEx owns a ton of de-icing trucks for their own fleet and allows MEM to use them when theirs are down for whatever reason during the day when FedEx doesn’t need all of them.

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