Why Not Ohio? Michigan Poised As the Midwest Green Energy Giant
Under Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, a Democrat now concluding her second term, Michigan studied various industrial sectors around which to build a new economic strategy. State economic specialists focused on clean energy, and especially battery production for the next generation of energy-efficient vehicles. She helped persuade the Legislature to approve $1 billion in tax credits for companies involved in developing advanced energy storage systems for electric vehicles.
The federal and state spending on advanced batteries has encouraged construction in other sectors of the recovering auto industry. State unemployment dropped to 13.1 percent in June from a peak of 14.9 percent in March, according to federal data.
Lenawee Stamping, a producer of metal stamping and welded fabrications, is expanding a plant in Tecumseh, Mich., to accommodate more production of G.M. electric vehicles, adding some 140 jobs. Magna Holdings of America, a designer and maker of auto components and systems, plans to invest $49.2 million to expand its operations in four Michigan cities to produce electric car systems, creating 500 more jobs, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
"What's absolutely critical is that we manufacture the components of a clean energy economy — the batteries, the wind turbines, the solar panels — right here in the United States," Ms. Granholm told a conference of engineers and battery developers in Detroit on July 27. "Michigan intends to lead the way in clean energy manufacturing."
Why not Ohio? Again, is it because Ted Strickland is so focused on bringing more dirty coal and nuke technology to Ohio that he is missing the brighter picture of clean energy manufacturing?
Say it ain't so, Ted.
Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party of Ohio Nominee for Governor
www.votespisak.org/governor/
www.dennisspisak.com
for more info, contact 330-503-1407