As you know, Gov. Bredesen has announced an exciting proposal involving UT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and TVA as partners in the Volunteer State Solar Initiative.
The governor has proposed using $62.5 million from the Department of Energy to create the Tennessee Solar Institute and the West Tennessee Solar Farm.
UT and ORNL will run the Tennessee Solar Institute, and it will be located at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville. The institute's focus is on basic research to improve solar products to make them more affordable and efficient.
UT also will be involved in the management of the West Tennessee Solar Farm to be located near Brownsville. TVA would buy power from the farm.
The University and ORNL have the capabilities to make major breakthroughs in solar technology.
This solar initiative will not only raise the profile of the University and the state of Tennessee but also put us at the forefront of research that can impact the lives of everyone. In addition, it provides learning opportunities for our students and will attract even more bright minds to UT.
We are eagerly planning for the institute's future in the new Joint Institute for Advanced Materials at Cherokee Farm.
For more information, read the press release here. http://www.tennessee.edu/media/releases/05132009_energyfundsut.html
