Statewide, more than 3,500 electric lineworkers, including 58 here at Southwest Tennessee EMC, provide a critical service to their communities. Every day, lineworkers get out of bed, put on their boots and work to make civilized life possible for the people who live in their community. It is a dangerous job that frequently requires them to be away from their families.
To recognize these important contributions, last year the Tennessee General Assembly approved a license plate design to honor Tennessee’s electric lineworkers.
Southwest was proud to sponsor and support the legislation that made the plates possible. The linemen climbing the pole on the license plate are an image of Southwest linemen from years gone by. They are Haskel Cox, Junior Harris and Norman Scott.
In order for the state to put the Powering Tennessee specialty plates into production, we had to collect 1,000 preorders in 12 months. Thanks to the overwhelming support of people from across the state, we reached that number in the first six weeks. The plates are now available at your local county clerk’s office.
Funds raised through specialty plate sales will benefit the Tennessee Lineworker Lifeline Fund, a nonprofit foundation created to assist lineworkers and their families in the event of a serious injury or fatality while on the job.
The Powering Tennessee specialty license plate and the Tennessee Lineworker Lifeline Fund are supported by Southwest, the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association, Tennessee Valley Public Power Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
You don’t have to be a lineworker to show your appreciation for these brave men and women — anyone with a private vehicle registered in Tennessee can get the plate. You can learn more by visiting poweringtennessee.org.
