Prairie Region News
(2008-02-27)
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Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Governor Granholm says by the end of March, the Legislature needs to pass legislation requiring utilities to eventually generate 25 percent of the state's electricity using renewable fuels.
She says foot-dragging could cost the state some big business investments and thousands of new jobs.
The governor says there are lots of renewable energy businesses - wind turbine makers, for example - looking for places to locate. But she says without green energy mandates, Michigan cannot guarantee them a market for their products and services.
She says 30 other states have already enacted green energy rules.
"The urgency of this cannot be overstated because every single day that we do not have an energy package, we are losing jobs," says Granholm.
She says the package should also include incentives for businesses to use wind, sun, and bio-fuels.
Republicans in the Legislature are hesitant to pass new government mandates that could drive up the cost of electricity. They say the marketplace should decide if it's time for Michigan utilities to go green. © Copyright 2012, MPRN
