By Lena Babaeva Coradini

Great news:  Tennessee's solar initiative gets funding from the DOE:

Bredesen said he was gratified by the Obama administration’s support.

“Tennessee has enjoyed considerable success in recruiting solar jobs to our state,” the governor said, citing recent multi-billion-dollar investments by solar-industry firms Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker Chemie AG. “Our new initiative, funded by the Recovery Act, will help ensure that we have bright prospects for continued clean-energy job growth.”

Tennessee is receiving 40 percent of its total State Energy Program (SEP) Recovery Act funding immediately. The initial 10 percent of total funding was previously available to support planning activities; the remaining 50 percent of funds will be released once the state meets reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive $31 million in additional funding, for a total of nearly $62.5 million.

Tennessee will use the funds to establish a  Volunteer State Solar Initiative, which will consist of two projects:  The Tennessee Solar Institute at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory partnership to improve efficiency and affordability of solar products, and the West Tennessee Solar Farm facility which will create a 20-acre power generation facility. 

Here is more information on the programs and the potential issues.

Thanks to Ed Callaway for the suggested entry.