Congressman Gordon Works On Solar Technology Jobs

October 23, 2009

6th District U.S. Congressman Bart Gordon continues the push to make this area a part of what is being described as a high-technology corridor. Here is the report filed by the Murfreesboro Democrat.

Thursday, in an effort to build upon the new solar technology jobs being created in Tennessee and across the country, the House passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act to create a national plan to facilitate the research, development and demonstration of American solar technology in partnership with the private sector.

In our state, we’ve seen first-hand the potential that solar energy has to create new jobs and in the process reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. The statewide solar initiative, launched by Governor Bredesen in May, has put Tennessee in a leading role nationally to promote and capitalize on the solar industry. The solar technology plants in Clarksville and Cleveland, as well as Nissan’s electric car and battery plant in Smyrna, are going to be instrumental in making Tennessee a leader in new clean energy industries.
The bill passed by the House yesterday will help additional solar projects get off the ground, and in turn create even more clear energy and green jobs in Tennessee. These investments will also help bring our state closer to developing a regional high-tech corridor, connecting Oak Ridge and UT with Tennessee Tech, MTSU, Vanderbilt, and the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
I used my chairmanship of the House Science and Technology Committee to advance the Solar Roadmap bill, and I will continue to look for other opportunities to create new, good-paying jobs in Tennessee. To read more about the Solar Roadmap Act, click here. To watch the opening statement I delivered on the House floor, click here.

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