SOM - Governor Granholm Says Midwest Can Be Clean Energy Center of the United States

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Governor Granholm Says Midwest Can Be Clean Energy Center of the United States

Contact: Megan Brown 517-335-6397

October 7, 2009

Unveils MGA Jobs Platform and Energy Infrastructure Accord

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that Michigan will continue to collaborate with other Midwest partners to make the region the clean energy center of the United States. Granholm made her comments during the closing session of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) Jobs and Energy Forum, where she joined with Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin to unveil MGA's Jobs Platform and Energy Infrastructure Accord.

"Clean energy is an opportunity that the Midwest is capitalizing on as states continue to be leaders in driving economic growth and innovation," said Granholm, chair of the MGA. "We are focused on ways to create jobs in this new energy economy, both in Michigan and across the Midwest."

The two-day long forum highlighted actions states are taking to make the Midwest region the energy epicenter of the nation by taking advantage of the region's vast natural resources, manufacturing expertise, and highly skilled workforce. Granholm and Doyle spoke to a broad group of stakeholders on the importance of making the Midwest the nation's clean energy hub.

At the forum, Granholm highlighted two documents: a jobs platform that will serve as a basis to help attract investment in clean energy and ensure that the region has a workforce prepared for the new jobs that will be created. This platform also suggests that it is necessary to begin aligning energy, economic, and workforce policies to maximize potential. Granholm also discussed the Energy Infrastructure Accord, which identifies steps that states will take to expand electricity transmission, carbon capture and storage, smart-grid, and biofuel transport technologies so states can efficiently transmit clean energy throughout the region to the rest of the country. The governor said the accord brings the Midwest a step closer to meeting energy goals by transforming ideas into tangible results and capabilities. To view the documents visit: www.midwesterngovernors.org/energy.htm

"The Jobs Platform and Energy Infrastructure Accord provide Midwestern states with strategies that can be adopted so we can be leaders in the clean-energy economy," Granholm said. "I look forward to continuing to work with MGA and my fellow governors to make the Midwest the leader in clean-energy investment and jobs."

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