U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) received the 2026 Hometown Hero Award from the Alabama League of Municipalities Tuesday and called on Alabama municipal leaders to coordinate the state’s energy infrastructure and capitalize on a wave of incoming manufacturing investment.
Tuberville spoke at the Alabama League of Municipalities breakfast panel during the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference in Washington.
The league presented him with the award at the conclusion of the discussion for his efforts to strengthen Alabama communities and usher in growth for the state.
On manufacturing, Tuberville said President Trump’s tariff strategy is driving companies to look at Alabama as a destination for domestic production.
“President Trump is in office, and he has put these tariffs all over the world to make sure manufacturing moves back to America,” Tuberville said. “All you gotta do is drive around Alabama and look at these empty warehouses and realize it’s time to come home.”
Tuberville said Alabama is competing directly with neighboring states for new industrial investment, comparing the contest to SEC recruiting.
“People want to move their manufacturing here. They come in my office and say they love Alabama. Then they go down the hall to Sen. Scott of Florida and tell him the same thing,” Tuberville said. “It’s like recruiting in the SEC — I can beat their ass, I promise you.”
On energy, Tuberville called for a unified statewide coordinator to bring Alabama Power, TVA, rural cooperatives, and other utilities onto the same page.
“Time is over for everybody being on their own page,” Tuberville said. “We’re going to get on the same page with all of it — whether it’s gas, whether it’s water, whether it’s electricity, whether it’s TVA, whether it’s co-ops, whether it’s Alabama Power.”
On education, Tuberville said he wants Alabama students to receive knowledge-based instruction grounded in moral values rather than ideological indoctrination.
“I want our kids to get well educated. I don’t want them to be indoctrinated,” Tuberville said. “We’re going to teach moral values and knowledge. We’re going to teach God in our schools.”
Tuberville closed by stressing that Alabama’s growth depends on coordination across communities, infrastructure, and energy.
“It takes power, it takes water, and it takes infrastructure. We gotta have those three things,” he said.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
