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A Dedicated Leader Governor Phil Bredesen’s record of environmental preservation and his commitment to sustainability began long before he was elected governor. An avid outdoorsman, he was instrumental in the creation of the Land Trust for Tennessee in bell buckle1998. As the state’s chief executive, he laid the groundwork for the state’s participation in a $100 million U.S. Department of Energy program to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure. That initiative is bolstered by Nissan’s early 2010 receipt of a $1.4 billion Department of Energy loan to restructure its Smyrna production facility for the manufacture of zero-emission vehicles and lithium-ion battery packs.

Taking The Lead Tennessee has also taking a leadership role at the cutting edge of solar power and alternative fuels research. Governor Bredesen’s Volunteer State Solar Initiative is a two-pronged strategic plan to spend $62.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to promote solar energy in Tennessee. The initiative establishes the Tennessee Solar Institute, a cooperative effort by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab, and a Solar Demonstration Farm along Interstate 40 in West Tennessee.


In the alternative fuels arena, a unique partnership spearheaded by Governor Bredesen between the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Lab and the State of Tennessee aimed at moving forward the development of cellulosic ethanol helped earn Oak Ridge National Lab a Department of Energy distinction as one of three national biofuels research centers in 2007.

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The experts recognize that Tennessee is poised to lead the emerging energy economy. The respected Pew Center for the States called Tennessee one of only three states in the nation with a large, fast-growing clean energy economy.bell buckle






The Bottom Line

Through grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, many of which are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Tennessee’s Office of Energy Policy provides a broad range of energy efficiency programs to business and industry, state and local governments, schools and residential consumers. All programs focus on energy efficiency measures and promote energy cost and dollar savings. These technical and financial assistance programs and services have helped implement projects that reduce energy bills, maximize efficiency and increase productivity.

For more information about the Tennessee Office of Energy Policy, call (615) 741-2994.

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