Initiates partnership on renewable energy and job creation

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today joined Denmark's Minister of Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU), initiating a partnership between the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy and the state of Michigan to explore development and share experiences in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and job creation.

"This agreement with Denmark will strengthen our ability to collaborate with a country that moved to the forefront of renewable energy technologies and put people to work in the process," Granholm said.  "In Michigan, we understand that growing our renewable energy industry and building a low-carbon economy can be a source of increased innovation that results in thousands of jobs for our citizens."

The MoU establishes working groups between Michigan and Denmark to focus on exploring development in alternative energy and job creation.  A group from Michigan will travel to Denmark this year, sponsored by the Embassy of Denmark, to study Danish energy technologies and policy.

Granholm and the Danish minister joined together for the signing at a summit in Ann Arbor titled: "Switching Gears: The Future of Low Carbon Manufacturing in the Midwest."  The summit, sponsored by The Climate Group and the Royal Danish Embassy, joined together business leaders, government leaders, and experts on renewable energy economics to discuss how to attract new energy jobs to the Midwest region and opportunities for business investment in environmentally-sensitive industries and technologies.

"Thanks to our investments 20 years ago, Denmark today has a thriving, clean-tech industry that accounts for about 10 percent of our total exports and is a major source of employment - in urban centres as well as in rural areas," said Connie Hedegaard, Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark.  "Through pragmatic policy, we turned crisis into opportunity - and the Midwest region in the U.S. can do the same."

"We applaud these business and government leaders for coming together in a commitment to low-carbon manufacturing and increased investment in renewable energy technologies that help grow the Midwest economy and address global climate change," said Michael Allegretti, director of government relations, The Climate Group.  "Thank you to Governor Granholm, Senator Stabenow, Congressman Dingell, and Minister Hedegaard for their leadership, and to the region's business leaders for recognizing the opportunities provided by environmental technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric automobiles."

Earlier this week, Granholm attended a U.S. symposium on climate change in Washington D.C.  Leaders from around the nation and the world gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities for U.S. leadership on implementing policy to build a renewable energy economy.  Last month, Governor Granholm was elected chair of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA).  Her MGA chair's initiative will focus on attracting green jobs to the Midwest and implementing the proper workforce development tools that will make green jobs a sustainable industry for the future.

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