Radio Address: Granholm Launches Meetings Across State With Alternative Energy Businesses
Contact:
Megan Brown 517-335-6397
November 2, 2007
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced at a press conference and in her weekly radio address that she will travel across Michigan to meet with leaders of businesses doing cutting-edge alternative energy work to discuss how the state can foster further growth in the industry and create jobs.
"Finding alternative sources of energy is going to be critical for our nation, and it can mean thousands and thousands of jobs for Michigan citizens," Granholm said. "Michigan is the state that put the world on wheels, and with some hard work and a solid plan, we will be the state that revolutionizes the way we fuel our cars and power our homes."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available on the governor's Web site (
www.michigan.gov/gov
) for download, together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow:
This is Governor Jennifer Granholm. This month, I'll be traveling around the state with my economic development team to talk to local business leaders who are growing a new industry right here in our backyard. We'll be visiting cities where the alternative energy sector is growing jobs and helping to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. And I'll be listening to hear what we can do to make sure Michigan continues to be a leader in this critical industry and that Michigan citizens get good-paying alternative energy jobs.
The International Energy Agency estimates that $20 trillion will be spent worldwide on energy production in the next 25 years - $20 trillion! And investments in alternative energy are growing dramatically every year. Citizens are rightfully becoming more concerned with global warming, our reliance on foreign oil and the impact those things have on our environment, our economy, and our national security.
But America's energy challenge is Michigan's economic opportunity. Michigan is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this green energy revolution; our productive farms and forests can grow the fuels of the future; our untapped wind resources offer us a huge source of clean electricity; our universities and corporate research centers are becoming world leaders in alternative energy science; and our manufacturing know-how can help build the green energy economy.
With our manufacturers being hit hard by the forces of globalization, right now we need to focus on industries, like alternative energy, with growing demand. Finding and commercializing alternative sources of energy is going to be critical for our nation, and if we lead the way in Michigan, it can mean thousands and thousands of jobs for Michigan citizens.
We know that wind can provide inexpensive electricity, so I'll be talking to leaders in the wind energy industry about ways we can expand production in Michigan and give Michigan workers the chance to build and assemble wind turbines that can be used around the world!
We know that the sun is a powerful source of energy, so I'm going to talk to Michigan's great photovoltaic manufacturers to make sure they have everything they need to compete and continue expanding and creating jobs.
We also know that with high gas prices and uncertain oil supplies, clean burning fuels that come from things like wood and grass are a great, homegrown alternative. I'm going to talk with companies who manufacture those biofuels right here in Michigan.
This is Michigan's future; it can mean clean, sustainable energy for our nation and thousands of jobs in a thriving Michigan economy.
Michigan is the state that put the world on wheels, and with some hard work and a solid plan, we will be the state that revolutionizes the way we fuel our cars and power our homes. Green energy is leading to great jobs right here in Michigan. Thank you for listening.
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