Governor To Keynote Tennessee's First Solar Symposium

November 6, 2009

State economic development leaders targeting solar energy industry as economic engine for Tennessee communities

Nashville, Tenn. - Nov. 6, 2009 - Governor Phil Bredesen, the state's leading solar energy advocate, will be the keynote speaker at the first ever Tennessee Solar Symposium being held in Nashville on Tuesday, November 10.

The Tennessee Solar Symposium will bring together economic development professionals from across the state to hear from global experts in the solar energy industry and to discuss ways to attract more solar industry jobs to Tennessee. The event is being hosted by the Tennessee Economic Partnership in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The event will consist of general sessions, panel discussions and breakout sessions featuring some of Tennessee's leading solar companies, economic development officials and site consultants active in the sector.

        What:  Tennessee Solar Symposium, an event to focus on economic
               development and job creation in the solar industry

        Who:   Governor Phil Bredesen
               Matt Kisber, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community
                Development
               Statewide representatives of Tennessee's economic development
                community
               The Tennessee Economic Partnership (host)
               Representatives of Tennessee's solar industry and national
                industry experts

        When:  Tuesday, November 10, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
               Governor's keynote address at 10 a.m. in the Music City
                Ballroom

        Where: Renaissance Hotel, 611 Union Street
               Nashville, Tenn.

Other featured speakers include Dr. Rolf Hirsenkorn, Vice President of Production for Wacker Polysilicon, Tom Nicholas, Regional Director for the Solar Electric Power Association and Dr. Chad Duty with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Solar Technology Program.

For more information about the Solar Symposium, visit www.tennep.com/solar. For more information about the Tennessee Economic Partnership, visit www.tennep.com.

    Contacts:  Kriste Goad, kriste@hallstrategies.com, 615.242.8856
               Mark Drury, markdrury@tn.org, 615-532-8880

SOURCE Tennessee Economic Partnership