The institute announced Friday that the grant monies - which are provided by federal stimulus funds granted to the state to stimulate renewable-energy development - will result in the installation of 2.8 megawatts of solar power.
"Today's announcement marks an important milestone in the advancement of Tennessee's position as a leader in solar innovation," University of Tennessee executive vice president David Millhorn said. The Tennessee Solar Institute is a collaborative effort between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, under which scientists and researchers collaborate on solar technology development.
In total, $9 million of the stimulus funds that Tennessee received will be used for the institute's solar grant program. That means another funding round will be forthcoming, but the first round filled up quickly: The institute began accepting applications on June 21, just seven weeks ago. The popularity of the grants, which are provided to businesses to help them afford solar energy systems, is indicative of Americans' growing interest in solar power.
