EPB Quantum Center Add $1.1 B To Chattanooga’s Economy
Chattanooga's Quantum Leap: EPB Infrastructure Investments to Generate $10 Billion Economic Windfall
EPB Quantum Centre
A landmark economic impact study predicts that the Electric Power Board (EPB) of Chattanooga's innovative investments in its fibre optic network, smart electric grid, and emerging quantum technology initiatives will generate an astounding 1.1 billion.
According to UTC's peer-reviewed assessment, EPB's infrastructure is among America's greatest public assets. A decision over 10 years ago to build a smart, automated electric grid and a widespread fibre optic network is the cornerstone of this success story. After completing this infrastructure in 2011, Chattanooga became known as “Gig City” for its high-speed communication.
Since its 2010 launch, the initiative has produced $5.3 billion in demonstrable community benefits, substantially exceeding its budget. Dr. Bento Lobo, Ph.D., UTC's economic research leader, noted that the initiative had repaid more than six times the initial investment cost since 2011. Dr. Lobo called the automated grid and fibre optic connection “one of the community's most meaningful and impactful investments”.
Foundational Success: Jobs, Taxes, Reliability Employment, taxes, and dependability—the three pillars of success
EPB's projects affect Chattanooga's economy and government. The efforts directly contributed to 10,420 job creations between 2011 and 2024, or 31% of all jobs produced in the metropolitan area over that time.
While creating jobs, the company delivered Hamilton County and Chattanooga $84.06 million in payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) to public agencies and local schools, providing a consistent flow of funds for essential government operations.
The infrastructure has also helped businesses and residents daily. Smart grid automation enhanced dependability and saved customers around 417.7 million minutes of power outages. This reduces average outages by 59% annually. Customers avoided over $945 million in outage-related spoilage, productivity, and business interruption costs.
EPB remains the connection market leader because to its unmatched quality and pricing. The corporation has saved customers $334 million on fibre optic and electric services through price and efficiency initiatives.
EPB lowered gig speed internet from $69.99 to $67.99 per month in 2019 and free-upgraded 100 Mbps consumers to 300 Mbps. EPB continuously delivers the lowest pricing per megabit and the biggest bandwidth package in the region, up to 25 gigabits per second, over a symmetrical, 100% fibre optic network. Profits from EPB Fibre Optics help pay for electric system infrastructure, cutting energy bills for everyone.
Bridging Digital Divide
Importantly, EPB has worked to close the digital gap. All qualified students attending Hamilton County Schools are able to get free high-speed fibre optic internet through the utility’s HCS Ed Connect powered by EPB program. This public vow has connected over 28,000 kids and their families, enabling internet resources, remote learning, and social mobility for thousands of homes.
“EPB has been a dedicated partner in public education, broadening opportunities for Hamilton County students while driving billions of dollars in economic benefit for our community,” stated Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. Their innovation, including line worker career ladders and new quantum prospects, is assuring the next generation can build a future in their country.
Investment in the Next $5 Billion Quantum Frontier EPB's economic research, which integrates fibre, electric, and quantum technology, will create 8,000 jobs between 2026 and 2035 and bring $5 billion to the region. The city's quantum initiatives alone might contribute $1.1 billion to that amazing amount. EPB's strategic initiatives to become a national leader in quantum information science support this projection.
In awareness of quantum computing and networking's transformative potential for material science, artificial intelligence, encryption, and secure communications, EPB has actively used its strong fibre infrastructure. EPB became the nation's first commercial quantum network in 2022 by announcing its implementation. An R&D 100 Award-winning quantum security effort with Oak Ridge and Los Alamos National Laboratories underpinned this achievement.
EPB launched the EPB Quantum CenterSM, the first US quantum technology centre to offer commercial quantum networking and quantum computing, to achieve its strategic goal. Chattanooga is creating a quantum ecosystem that will attract top talent and investment in one of the most significant technologies of the 21st century by giving researchers, entrepreneurs, and established enterprises direct access to this cutting-edge infrastructure.
EPB's fibre network fundamentally changed Chattanooga, and the city-owned utility continues to set us apart from other destinations, Mayor Tim Kelly stated. He admitted that EPB's innovation draws tech companies, remote workers, and researchers to Chattanooga. This trend will grow as quantum networks improve.
The success of EPB's fibre, smart grid, and quantum ventures makes Chattanooga a national model for how a publicly held utility may increase economic growth and quality of life through strategic technological investment. EPB is modernizing infrastructure and transforming Chattanooga's economy as it prepares to deliver on its $10 billion community benefit, driven by its quantum programs.