NASHVILLE (AP) — The U.S. Senate has approved four new members to the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which will go on to the president's desk for his signature.

The Senate on Tuesday approved the nominations of C. Peter Mahurin, of Kentucky; Vera Lynn Evans, of Tennessee; Michael McWherter, of Tennessee; and Joe H. Ritch of Huntsville to fill vacancies on the nine-member board. President Barack Obama made the nominations in September.

Ritch, an attorney, would become the second Alabamian to serve on the TVA board during its 79-year history.

Ritch has been active in economic development work and is the longtime chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee.

The first Alabamian to serve on the board of the federal utility, former Adtran President Howard Thrailkill of Huntsville, left the board in December 2010 after serving more than four years. He was selected by President George W. Bush.

TVA Chairman Bill Sansom was quoted on the TVA's Twitter account as saying he was looking forward to working with the new board members.

TVA provides electricity to 9 million people in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.