EESI Members
Energy Efficient Schools Council
A twelve (12) member body that includes the commissioners of education, environment and conservation, and economic and community development or their designees; three (3) members appointed by the Governor; three (3) members appointed by the speaker of the senate; and, three (3) members appointed by the house of representatives pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. § 49-17-103.
The Energy Efficient Schools Council (“Council”), created by the Energy Efficient Schools Act (2008), carries out the obligations proscribed in Tennessee Code Annotated, sec. 49-17-101, et seq., including the following:
1. Approve the design and technology guidelines as established by the technical advisory committee;
2. Award grants or loans to school systems for qualifying capital outlay projects, including projects where a provider has warranted predetermined energy us objectives under the criteria established by the technical advisory committee and approved by the council;
3. Cause to be conducted verification of energy efficiencies achieved using the methodologies established by the technical advisory committee;
4. To the extent feasible, establish and support ongoing energy management programs; and
5. Establish compensation for members of the technical advisory committee, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
Energy Efficient Schools Council Members
Officers
Gary Anderson, President
Zane Foraker, Vice President
Bob Turner, Secretary
Ex-Officio Members
Brooxie Carlton (Designee)
TN - Economic & Community Development
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Brooxie.Carlton@tn.gov
615-336-2481
Maryanne Durski, (Designee) 9/2025
TN - Education
CFO
Maryanne.Durski@tn.gov
615-532-9510
Matt Taylor (Designee) 9/2025
TN - Environment & Conservation
Deputy Director - Sustainable Practices
Matthew.K.Taylor@tn.gov
615-979-2449
Governor Appointees
VACANT, Natural Gas
Zane Foraker, Knox County Schools, Energy Manager
Zane.Foraker@KnoxSchools.org
865-594-8957
Bob Turner, City Administrator, Somerville (6/2022)
RTurner@SommervilleTN.gov
901-604-0209
Speaker of the Senate Appointees
Tommy Yeager, SVP M J Harris
TommyY@MJHarris.com
615-405-2004
Dr. Kuma Sumathipala - ORNL
Ex-Officio, Non-voting
SumathipalKU@ORNL.gov
Gary Anderson - Williamson County Schools (ret.)
GaryAnderson1@hotmail.com
615-472-4004
Speaker of the House Appointed Members
Carrie Fogleman - TVA
Ex-Officio, Non-voting
Clmeade@tva.gov
Frank Wagster, TLM Associates
Board of Examiners for architects and engineers
F.Wagster@tlmac.com
931-988-9840
Allen Foster, Mayor Cumberland County
Local Government Representative
MayorFoster@CumberlandCountyTN.gov
931-484-6165
EESI Staff
Scott Slusher
Executive Director
Scott.S.Slusher@tn.gov
629-203-4710
Jim Keiffer
Regional Engergy Consultant
Technical Advisory Committee
A seven (7) member body that includes two Ex-Officio members representing Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tennessee Valley Authority, and five (5) engineers and architects chosen by the Council pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. § 49-17-103. The Technical Advisory Committee members serve at the pleasure of the Council and provide technical resources including:
1. Establish Energy efficient design and technology guidelines for all kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) school facilities, including, but not limited to, lighting and HVAC guidelines, as well as establishing criteria whereby projects that have been warranted for a predetermined energy use shall be eligible;
2. Establish methodology guidelines for post-audit verification of energy efficiencies achieved, if any by qualifying capital outlay projects awarded by the council;
3. Establish guidelines for commissioning verification controls to monitor on an ongoing basis the efficiency and effectiveness of qualifying capital outlay projects awarded by the council, including recommendations for utilization of energy managers where feasible; and
4. Any additional duties required by the council in furtherance of the council’s goals.
Committee Members
George (Clay) Hoover, PE, Program Manager - EnergyRight® Solutions for Business and Industry
Mark Samuels, PE-Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Williamson County Schools (Ret.)
Lee Baker, Tennessee Valley Public Power Association
Terry Townsend, PE, LEED AP, President, Townsend Engineering
Kim Shinn, PE, LEED AP, Director of Sustainable Design, TLC Engineering for Architecture
James Hastings, Founding Principal & Architect, Hastings Architecture Associates
EESI Staff
EESI’s staff develop and deliver the EESC Annual Program Plan and work with the TAC to set strategic goals and energy efficiency standards for program funding. Additionally, the staff provides technical assistance to public schools and local governing bodies by assisting with implementation of their energy efficient policies or programs. Every dollar of the original EESI funding has gone directly to Tennessee’s public school districts and 100% of the administrative cost have been covered through interest earned on low-interest loans and treasury fund balances.
Scott A. Slusher, PEM
Director
Energy Services Consultant
Andrew Johnson Tower, 10th Floor
710 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243
Scott.S.Slusher@tn.gov