LAKE KATRINE -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey Wednesday announced he has secured the House Appropriations Committee's approval of $2.9 million for The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) and its partners. Hinchey, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, had the committee include the funds for TSEC and its partners as part of the Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations bill and the Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Service Appropriations bill.

The measures still have several legislative steps to go, but having the funds included in the original version of the bill is considered a critical step in the process. The funds may also face a challenge from President Bush who has said he opposes the inclusion of funding for such projects.

Of the $2.9 million, $1.5 million of the funds will be used for Prism Solar Technologies, Inc. -- the first major manufacturing partner with TSEC -- to expand in and begin manufacturing in Ulster County.

Prism's partnership with TSEC is expected to create more than 400 new jobs locally over the next four to five years. Prism is a high-technology, research, manufacturing and marketing enterprise, formed in 2005 to manufacture and market a patented state-of-the-art photovoltaic technology expected to catalyze one of the already fastest-growing clean energy industries in the world.

A total of $900,000 of the funds will be used for TSEC's operational needs. Hinchey helped organize and create TSEC in upstate New York, which is a new industry-driven, non-profit organization that provides leadership, organization, resources, and support for the establishment of a major solar energy industry cluster in New York. TSEC is the first organization of its kind for the photovoltaic industry, encompassing research and development, manufacturing facilities, industry promotion and market development.

Congressman John Hall, who has long been a strong support of renewable energy, also worked to secure some of the federal funding for TSEC.

In order to advance TSEC, Hinchey previously helped secure $1.476 million in federal funds to help bring companies such as Prism Solar Technologies into the consortium. The congressman also secured $3.2 million in federal funds for C9 Corporation to conduct solar research and development in conjunction with TSEC. Additionally, Hinchey helped convince Empire State Development to contribute a $1.5 million grant to attract solar energy companies to TSEC. Subsequently, the recently approved New York State budget includes $6.5 million for TSEC. Ulster County has also committed $200,000 to the consortium.