Sarah Jayne Della Vecchia
DemocraticQ1 Data centers and the TVA grid (Energy / AI / Environment) – Data center electricity use in the Tennessee Valley has grown roughly sevenfold since 2020, and in the Memphis area, gas turbines powering AI data centers have raised air-quality concerns. What specific policies, if any, would you support to protect Tennesseans’ electricity bills, grid reliability, and air quality as data centers expand?
I’m in favor of regulations, no matter how strict, that actually protect our people, our land, and our pocketbook from the harmful effects of data centers. If a company wants to build data centers are to be built in Tennessee, they have to offer proof that the facilities will have no ill affect on air quality, water quality/availability, or power availability. They also have to provide proof that light and noise/vibration pollution will not extend past a designated point from their facility. If regulations are not adhered to, there is clear shutdown authority. Facilities would not be permitted to operate if there are negative impacts like those listed above, and the owning companies would be responsible for full decommissioning and cleanup of the site. Independent studies from groups chosen by municipal or state officials and funded by the company should be conducted beforehand to ensure that the power grid can handle the projected load of the data center. Any necessary improvements to the grid will be paid for by the company before construction of the data center.
Q2 Childhood vaccination (Public Health / Trust in Science) – According to the Tennessee Department of Health, roughly 80% of Tennessee counties fall below the 95% kindergarten vaccination rate needed to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as measles. What policies, if any, would you support to manage vaccine-preventable diseases in Tennessee?
There is a lot of fear and distrust brought on from misinformation regarding vaccines in Tennessee. Policies like eliminating religious exemption for public school vaccine requirements could backfire, and I think we should focus on restoring trust in science and medicine. I don’t have a concrete policy to do that, but it is something I would like to discuss with field experts, concerned parents, and public health officials.
Q3 Flooding and extreme-weather resilience (Environment / Climate) – Two years after Tropical Storm Helene, East Tennessee communities are still rebuilding, and a 2026 winter storm left hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans without power. What specific steps, if any, would you take to prepare Tennessee’s communities, infrastructure, and power grid for severe weather?
This is not an area that I’m familiar with, and I don’t have a specific answer at this time.
Q5 State Science Education (K-12 Science Education) Secondary science (biology, chemistry, and physics) is one of the subject areas where Tennessee schools most often face teacher vacancies or rely on teachers with emergency credentials, and Tennessee lost a larger share of its teachers between 2023 and 2025 than any other state. What specific state policies, if any, would you support to recruit and keep qualified science teachers in Tennessee classrooms, particularly in rural and high-need districts?
Focusing on increasing teacher pay and supporting teachers across the board would help here, as well as working to ensure science teachers have access to the right equipment for the job. Measures like book bans and giving preference to religion (allowing 10 commandments to be posted in schools, allowing religious activities to take place during the school day, etc) I believe are not conducive to attracting and retaining qualified science teachers. So working on eliminating those issues in public schools is also something I support.
Q6 Trust in science (Policymaking Process / Trust in Science) – Distrust in science has been on the rise among the general public and policymakers, which has been associated with changes in federal funding for scientific research. In order to bridge this gap, how do you think scientists and policymakers can work together to strengthen their communication?
As with all things, policymakers should prioritize listening to people on the ground doing work in their fields. Giving scientists opportunity to speak in hearings and committee meetings and meeting with them in smaller groups are a couple of ways that communication could be improved.