DECEMBER 29, 2008 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Director Stanley "Skip" Pruss today announced that the new Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) has officially opened for business. Granholm signed Executive Order 2008-20 on October 27 to streamline state government by aligning all renewable energy and energy efficiency programs together and adding "Energy" to the Department of Labor & Economic Growth's name in recognition of this concentrated effort.
Granholm appointed her special advisor on renewable energy, Stanley "Skip" Pruss, as director and as the state's new Chief Energy Officer to oversee the workforce and economic development efforts to prepare for Michigan's new energy economy.
The new DELEG brings together state employees from the Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Quality, the Energy Office and the Public Service Commission to work on energy related initiatives. This new office will partner closely with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's tax incentive and business attraction efforts.
"Michigan is uniquely positioned to be a force in renewable energy due to our strength in research and development and highly skilled workforce from the manufacturing industries; advanced energy training at our colleges and universities; as well as our abundance of natural resources," said Pruss. "Our staff is very excited by this unified focus on energy to make Michigan a leader in emerging new energy industries."
DELEG is also home to the Green Jobs workforce initiative as part of the Governor Granholm's No Worker Left Behind which is training workers for high growth industries. Governor Granholm announced the No Worker Left Behind initiative on August 1, 2007; an ambitious plan to train 100,000 Michigan citizens in three years for jobs in high demand occupations, emerging industries, or entrepreneurial endeavors. NWLB gives Michigan residents the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to win good-paying jobs in today's global economy. No Worker Left Behind provides up to two years of free tuition at any Michigan community college, university, or other approved training program, for qualifying participants. (more)
As part of the Green Jobs initiative, DELEG is investing $6 million for green jobs to:
- Increase the number of green industries and businesses in Michigan.
- Develop green education and training programs, spurring the growth of Michigan's green economy.
- Invest in worker education and training to prepare our workers for green jobs.
- Support urban renewal by creating green jobs and training opportunities for a diverse mix of people.
Michigan workers interested in pursuing new energy careers can find NWLB approved training programs on the Green Jobs website at www.Michigan.gov/greenjobs. For more information about DELEG, visit www.michigan.gov/dleg.
Read more releases from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
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