California Dreamin’ – Granholm spreads the good word about Michigan
Governor Granholm cut short her holiday weekend, flying out to California Sunday night to be available bright and early Monday morning for a series of meetings with alternative energy investors, internet companies and movie makers, spreading the word that Michigan is open for business in ALL these areas!
Her first meeting was with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a venture capitol firm that was a major investor in such names as Amazon.com, Google, Genetech and Netscape. Just recently, they announced that Nobel prize winner Al Gore signed on with the company to be a partner on research and investment in clean energy technology. Need I say more? These are definitely people you want to talk to!
In an interview with Tom Walsh, Governor Granholm explains why these meetings are important- these investors need to be made aware of Michigan’s potential in this field.
Partners at Kleiner Perkins and other VC firms, she said, were “very surprised that Michigan has such great strategic assets in alternative energy” — for wind power, cellulosic ethanol and solar energy panels — in addition to the technology and talent of the automotive industry.
But the need for a renewable portfolio standard still comes into play. Investors and companies flock to those states that have public policy encouraging the growth of alternative energy.
Granholm said that while VC fund managers in her first few meetings were surprised and impressed by what they heard about Michigan’s efforts, they also made it clear that they will look favorably on states with aggressive public policy initiatives favoring the growth of renewable energy sources.
Granholm said she will push hard on the Michigan Legislature when she returns to Lansing to act quickly — before the end of the year — on a bill to adopt a renewable portfolio standard that would require Michigan to generate a certain percentage of power using renewable resources such as wind, sunlight or biofuels.
We have what it takes in Michigan to be a leader in this field; it’s time to get policy on board to help us attract these jobs.
During the whirlwind two day trip- the Governor is taking time to meet with other potential job makers, such as the movie industry. If you recall, this year Michigan has passed legislation that provides incentives for movie-makers to film here, putting us on par with incentives offered in other states.
Here is a rundown of the California itinerary-
• VantagePoint Venture Partners, a San Bruno firm backing electric sports-car maker Tesla Motors, which has an engineering center in Rochester Hills.
• Nth Power, a venture firm partnering with Detroit’s NextEnergy on renewable energy technology.
• Corium International, a Menlo Park maker of drug delivery products that also has operations in Grand Rapids.
• A visit to the Mountain View headquarters of Google, which has a major operation in Ann Arbor.
• Khosla Ventures, a backer of Mascoma Corp., which is building a cellulosic ethanol plant in northern Michigan.
• A dinner meeting in San Francisco with site-location consultants.
• And a meeting today in Los Angeles with film industry officials to pitch new incentives that Michigan is offering to attract moviemakers.
With the wind outside howling, the sky gray and the snowflakes falling, I hope that the Governor brings back some of that California sunshine too!
Hey, it can’t hurt to ask!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:38 am
I almost forgot. I have not been to sunny California as of yet, however, I plan to visit. I have cousins I speak with frequently via telephone and electronic communications online. They purchased my first computer and made finishing college online possible. Now I’ve caught a fever for knowledge (lol)
Anything you do to better internet communications I am in favor of.
Thanks!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Seasons Greetings Governor Granholm…
I’m fully aware of the current budget situation. Hopefully you look beyond that in regards to the State’s yearly contribution to keep both the Blue Water & Pere Marquette Amtrak trains running. I’m not aware that funding is in jeopardy, hopefully not. These two trains have seen increased ridership each month, each year. If for some reason this subsidy is removed, this will NOT be beneficial to our state’s citizens, nor anyone outside of Michigan that these trains service. With the increasing threat to our climate based on recent scientific reports, cleaner air is needed in the future for our entire planet. Train travel removes cars from the roads, and people DO need a continued alternate means of transportation, for whatever the reason. Please make sure these two trains run each and every year. Thank you so much for your attention to this matter, and Seasons Greetings to you and your wonderful family from Steve and Linda Sobel, Farmington, Michigan.
P.S. You’re doing a wonderful job, regardless of the nay sayers and finger pointers out there. No one can perform instant miracles. It’s time people learned to be patient!
December 1st, 2007 at 12:13 am
we are the “Water Wonderland” and that is one of our greatest treasures, we in Detroit can rest assured the Detroit Water Dept,is built into our city charter and gov, engler tried hard to take it away from the citizens of Detroit, thus started the Water War. because here they come to get the water. the Great Lakes bottled water?
the illegal immigrant problem is easy to solve. issue B-Count cards to illegals that live in michigan and can prove it, to get a head count of all illegals that want to be counted and not labeled “illegal”. drivers license was illegal to issue, period. The B-Count Card will serve the census with hard numbers instead of guessing, the immigration laws were working before politicians started the work programs. this should be done by each state. hard numbers is needed to tackle the problem, obey the immigration laws, support ICE.