The Department of Energy has given the green light for Tennessee to use federal stimulus money for solar power projects. Rather than funding residential solar installations–which we hope will be the next use of spare energy funds within the state–the $62 million will be used for a 5 MW solar power generation plant an hour northeast of Memphis, and for a solar research institute at the University of Tennessee that will focus on solar innovations.

Governor Phil Bredesen says the state has been working towards this goal since the spring, and is pleased to see it come to fruition. The solar plant will have an educational center open to the public, which he hopes will help spread awareness and knowledge of solar power throughout the state. Bredesen said he wants Tennessee to become “a knowledge center for the technology that’s going to bring solar into the realm of economic power production”.