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Jennifer Granholm on Energy & OilDemocratic Governor (MI) |
Clean energy: Michigan boasted both a strong tradition of manufacturing excellence and a favorable geography for the generation of renewable energy, thanks to our proximity to the enormous natural resources of the Great Lakes.
Advanced manufacturing in fields like robotics, nanotechnology, and materials science: Michigan's track record in science, engineering, design, and manufacturing gave us a measurable advantage in all these growing fields.
Under Pres. Obama, the federal Department of Energy also offered competitive grants for renewable energy manufacturing as part of the Recovery Act. I asked our legislature to create irresistible state tax credits for wind, solar, and biofuels, as well as for advanced energy storage systems (such as the lithium-ion battery used in an electric car). Expanding our private-public partnerships, we created 13 Centers of Energy Excellence to help commercialize universities' breakthrough technologies in clean energy.
A unique strength that only government can provide is the capacity to think systematically about the entire value chain and seek opportunities to strengthen each link in that chain through incentivizing "clusters" of related companies.
A resolution that it is the goal of the United States that, not later than January 1, 2025, the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the US should provide from renewable resources not less than 25% of the total energy consumed and continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber. [Governors also signed letters of endorsement at www.25x25.org]
Rep. SALAZAR: "Our resolution establishes a national goal of producing 25% of America's energy from renewable sources--like solar, wind and biofuels--by 2025. The "25x'25" vision is widely endorsed, bold, and fully attainable. If implemented, it would dramatically improve our energy security, our economy, and our ability to protect the environment.
"I am pleased that more than 20 of my colleagues in the Senate, from both sides of the aisle, are cosponsoring this resolution. In addition, the "25x'25" vision has been endorsed by 22 current and former governors and several State legislatures across the country. The Big Three automobile manufacturers--Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors--are all behind "25x'25" So are many agricultural organizations, environmental groups, scientists, and businesses, ranging from the Natural Resources Defense Council to John Deere.
"These Americans understand that we cannot continue to import 60% of our oil from foreign countries, many of which are hostile to the US, if we aim to be strong and secure in the world. They know that we will have to build a clean energy economy if we are to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It is time for Congress to take a more active role in our clean energy future. Establishing a national goal--"25x'25" is the first step."