July 21, 2006

In the face of record-high gas prices Granholm calls on President Bush to take action, highlights state's alternative energy accomplishments

LANSING – In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today called on the Bush administration to take action against excessive oil profits in the face of record high gas prices and said Michigan will be the state that makes the nation independent of foreign oil.
 
“It is time for the Bush administration to take action,” Granholm said.  “It’s time for them to cap exorbitant oil company profits.  It’s wrong to continue to allow oil companies to rake in profits in excess of $20 billion per year while citizens struggle to pay for a tank of gas.”
 
Granholm also said that Michigan can be a leader in alternative energy technology development which can help create jobs in Michigan and end the nation’s reliance on foreign oil.  This week Granholm signed legislation providing a single business tax research and development compensation credit that will assist a new joint venture by Chrysler, General Motors, and BMW to develop hybrid technology.

Also in the last two weeks:

• Granholm signed legislation to provide tax incentives to people who use ethanol and biodiesel in their cars and trucks;

• the state’s first biodiesel production facility opened in Bangor and will use Michigan-grown soybeans to produce fuel for vehicles;

• Granholm signed legislation providing incentives to service stations that install ethanol and biodiesel pumps;

• more gas stations are installing ethanol and biodiesel pumps thanks to a partnership between the state, Meijer, and General Motors.

Granholm today welcomed Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack to Michigan talk about their shared passion for alternative energy.  While here, Governor Vilsack will visit the biodiesel plant in Albion and join Granholm at Governor’s Day at the Ionia Free Fair. 

“We are making progress, but the effort is just beginning,” Granholm said.  “Our 21st Century Jobs Fund will continue investing in alternative energy technology, our unique agriculture renaissance zones program will provide incentives for up to 15 additional ethanol plants, and we will continue our gas pump inspections to ensure that you get the quantity and quality you deserve at the pump.”

The Governor’s weekly radio address is released each Friday at 10:00 a.m. and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state through an affiliation with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.  The address will also be available on the Governor’s website on Mondays as a podcast for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers

Broadcasters Note: Governor Granholm’s radio address can be accessed through Sunday evening exclusively through the Members Only page of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters website. 

Publishers Note: The text of today’s address is attached.