October 29, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2010
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today celebrated Michigan's growing success in the clean energy sector at two events in Saginaw and Flint.
This morning in Saginaw, the governor participated in the unveiling of Merrill Technologies Group's first utility-scale wind turbine to be manufactured and assembled in Michigan. And this afternoon, the governor spoke at the Biogas Summit at Kettering University in Flint.
"When we created the 21st Century Jobs Fund five years ago, our vision was to foster the next generation of innovative companies that would diversify Michigan's economy and create thousands of new, high-tech jobs for Michigan workers," Granholm said. "The manufacture of wind turbines in Saginaw and the production of biogas in Flint are further evidence of growth in Michigan's clean energy sector."
Merrill Technologies Group, which began in 1968 as a tool and die shop machining parts for General Motors, has produced the first Michigan-built utility-scale wind turbine which will be installed in Cadillac later this year. Wind turbines are also sold to farms, schools and businesses for use in distributed energy projects. Partnering with Northern Power Systems, Merrill is even working with NASA to provide wind power in remote areas such as the South Pole and Indian Ocean.
The Biogas Summit was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to foster collaboration and exchange of ideas between parties working in the area of anaerobic digestion and research and development.
Kettering University is a partner in the Swedish Biogas International Center of Energy Excellence, initiated in 2008 to work on creating biogas from refuse at wastewater treatment plants. Kettering University has also converted a General Motors truck to run on both gasoline and compressed bio-methane and is performing research in the area of green power.
"As we continue working to diversify Michigan's economy, innovative companies like Merrill Technologies Group and events like the Biogas Summit will be instrumental in helping us create new clean energy jobs for Michigan workers and meeting the nation's energy needs," Granholm said.
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