The Tennessee Economic Partnership and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development are jointly hosting a solar power symposium in Nashville that will bring together 150 economic development experts.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen spoke on Monday of his desire to "move the needle on clean energy jobs and growth in Tennessee for the foreseeable future," emphasizing solar's ability to provide "new, good-paying jobs" to the state.
TEP Chairman Mike Evans called the Tennessee Solar Symposium a "tremendous educational and networking event."
Solar power is forecasted to be a growth industry in the U.S., and Tennessee is eager to jump into the ring. Solar panel component manufacturers Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker Chemie are investing $3 billion in the state. The Pew Charitable Trusts rank Tennessee third among U.S. states in the development of clean energy.
One month ago, Governor Bredesen announced a $62 million grant for solar energy research. The monies will be split between two University of Tennessee-backed projects; one is a demonstration solar farm and the other is allocated to solar power innovation grants.
