Ryder vows not to mix politics with role on TVA board
WASHINGTON – Memphis attorney John Ryder assured senators on Tuesday that his involvement in Republican politics would not overly influence his decisions as a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board of directors.
“I fully appreciate that the role of a member of the board of TVA is outside of politics,” Ryder said during his confirmation hearing.
At the same time, Ryder said, “my political experience has given me greater appreciation for the wants, needs and aspirations of those served by TVA.”
Ryder was nominated in February by President Donald Trump to serve on the utility’s ninemember board. If confirmed, he would serve through May 2021 and would replace Michael McWherter, a Democrat whose term has expired.
Wile he has no experience in the public utility sector, Ryder has been a longtime Republican operative. He has served as general counsel to the Republican National Committee, as chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party and served four times as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
At Tuesday’s hour-long hearing, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., cited Ryder’s lack of experience in electric power generation and noted that it would seem unusual for someone with his background to be nominated to the board of a public utility that serves 9 million customers. He asked for assurance that Ryder would approach the job “with no preconceptions and not as an agent for fossil fuel influence within TVA.”
Ryder responded that he understands that his role as a TVA board member would be helping set strategic direction for the utility and allowing its officers to run the organization.
His understanding of those differing roles was reinforced by his involvement with various nonprofit organizations, he told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety.
Those experiences helped inform his understanding of the need to separate the political from the governmental, Ryder said.
Asked by Whitehouse if he accepts that carbon emissions contribute to climate change, Ryder said he isn’t well versed in the science on that issue but added, “I’m in favor of clean air and water.”
Responding to a question from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Ryder said protecting the energy grid from cyberattacks should be “a major concern and priority” for the TVA board.
Ryder was introduced at the hearing by Tennessee Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, both of whom are backing his nomination.
TVA leadership has made decisions that will benefit the region, provide reasonable rates, keep the air clean and encourage industry to keep coming to the Tennessee Valley, Alexander said.
“John Ryder is a great choice to continue on that path,” he said.