August 4, 2006
Governor says Michigan will be leader in alternative energy development and production
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will discuss alternative energy strategies with governors and industry leaders from across the nation this weekend while attending the 2006 National Governors’ Association (NGA) Summer Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.
A day before attending the NGA meeting, the governor will participate in the grand opening of The Andersons, Inc., Albion ethanol plant, a new 55 million gallon facility that represents $70 million in private investment. The project created 250 construction jobs and another 30 permanent jobs in Calhoun County.
“Michigan is the state that put the nation on wheels, and we will be the state that makes those wheels independent of foreign oil,” Granholm said. “High gas prices are affecting citizens in every state, and I am proud to be working with my fellow governors to convince the federal government to lower fuel costs and promote alternative energy development and production.”
During her day at NGA, Granholm will attend an alternative energy session titled “Challenges Facing the Expanded Use of Alternative Transportation Fuels.” The session will include presentations from General Motors, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Mining Association.
Granholm has been a leader in promoting alternative energy use in Michigan. A portion of the $2 billion 21st Century Jobs Fund, which is part of the governor’s “Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow” plan, the most aggressive, comprehensive jobs plan in the nation, is being targeted to developing alternative energy. In its first round of funding, more than 80 alternative energy companies applied for funding from the Jobs Fund.
Other alternative energy accomplishments include:
• 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.
• Four new ethanol plants have broken ground since 2003, quadrupling our state’s production of corn-based fuel.
• Granholm signed legislation providing incentives to service stations that install ethanol and biodiesel pumps.
• Ethanol and biodiesel pumps are being installed at more gas stations thanks to a partnership between the state, Meijer, and General Motors.
Governor Granholm has been a consistent advocate for consumers on the issue of gas prices. The governor has called on President Bush to take immediate action needed to protect consumers from record prices and record profits for oil companies. In May, the governor sent over 275,000 signatures to the White House from her online petition which called on the president to cap oil profits.
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