Bredesen's latest Solar pitch

Hundreds of economic-development officials and corporate execs gathered for the Tennessee Solar Symposium in Nashville yesterday. It wasn't a backslapping occasion. Rather, the goal was to learn more about creating wealth and jobs in Solar and other green-energy fields. New grants and tech assistance programs were announced. The story's here.

Aerisyn bought by Germans

Chattanooga's Aerisyn Energy, a wind-power tower manufacturer, was bought by a German firm, SAIG Schaaf Industrie AG, which says it'll invest $3 million to expand and double the workforce to 240 by mid-2011. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The TFP reports.

Tennessee Green: 'There's a BYD F3DM in your future'

[Updated] We reported recently that Gov. Phil Bredesen is definitely tracking more companies poised to expand and-or invest in Tennessee. This morning's Tennessean has U.S. Sen. Bob Corker saying there'll soon be another announcement in one of the other Grand Divides. Mentioned today: Hemlock Semiconductor, Sharp Electronics (Memphis, possible expansion candidate), Aerisyn Energy (wind), AGC Flat Glass, Dupont Danisco Cellulosic (biofuel). There are also hints Tennessee is pursuing Nashville-based Nissan North America and General Motors for production of new electric cars. Meanwhile, today's WSJ reports on the emergence of The People's Republic of China's BYD, maker of the new F3DM e-car, which is prepared to take on the world, albeit with a few engine-mount shakes and rattles. Updated Jan. 13: KNS's Brass reports on Knox-based Enerex's business in wind-to-energy, story here.