Radio Address: Granholm to Sign Historic Energy Package Next Week
This week’s radio address looks forward to next Monday when Governor Granholm will sign historic energy legislation that will put Michigan on the path to creating good-paying “green” jobs, diversifying our economy as well as ensuring affordable, clean energy for the future.
This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Since becoming Governor, I have signed more than 2,400 bills into law.
On Monday, I will sign perhaps the most important legislation to create jobs and diversify Michigan’s economy that has crossed my desk.
By requiring that 10 percent of Michigan’s energy needs come from renewable sources like solar and wind power, this legislation that I’m about to sign, will create jobs and make sure that this growing industry sets up shop in Michigan.
No one questions, of course, that renewable energy is the future. Our nation needs it-both to protect our pocketbooks and to protect the planet from climate change.
And Michigan is a natural fit for the new energy jobs being created right now. Our manufacturing history, our outstanding universities our bountiful natural resources give us an advantage over most of our competitor states. In fact, one recent study found that Michigan was one of just four states with the potential to create more than 30,000 jobs, 30,000 jobs- in wind turbine manufacturing alone!
And these jobs will benefit all of us – the young engineer looking to help develop the technologies of tomorrow, or the middle-aged manufacturing worker hurt by downsizing and unfair trade, or the farmer with land to lease for wind turbines, the small business owner who makes energy efficient bulbs or insulation.
This comprehensive energy plan will create all kinds of jobs for all kinds of people. But without the legislation I will sign on Monday, these jobs will only trickle into our state. And we intend to create a tidal wave!
In addition to creating new energy jobs for our state, this comprehensive energy plan will also help protect Michigan consumers.
The bill that I’ll sign into law requires new energy efficiency measures to help you lower your utility bills; it also has new regulations to ensure that renewable energy technology is less expensive than energy from fossil fuels, like coal, and it includes an income tax credit to help citizens.
Michigan’s power plants are aging and will soon need to be replaced. The cost of new plants combined with the rising cost of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas that we import to generate electricity means higher rates for customers.
So, by taking action now to require our state to transition away from energy produced by coal to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, energy customers like you will save more than $4 billion over the next 20 years.
This comprehensive energy plan is a great step for our state. It will create thousands of new jobs and it will provide cleaner, more affordable energy to our citizens.
It’s the future we all want for Michigan.
Thank you for listening.
