State of the State Highlights. Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced in her State of the State address tonight she’ll move aggressively to reduce Michigan’s reliance on coal-burning power plants by 45% in a decade, and encourage homeowners and businesses to supply their own, cheaper power.
Granholm, in an advance text of the address, also called for a re-evaluation of utility companies’ plans to build eight new coal-fired plants, using stricter guidelines to determine the need for the plants.
She called for creation of a state Energy Corps that will employ thousands to weatherize 100,000 homes install energy-saving technology in another 1,000 buildings to reduce the use of electricity.
The proposals are part of a sweeping effort Granholm said is needed to both reduce carbon-spewing coal plants and create job markets for wind and other renewable energy sources.
“The demand for wind and solar power in this country is about to explode,” Granholm said in her prepared speech, noting that President Barack Obama plans to double renewable energy use in three years. She added, “We will seize upon this surging demand for renewable energy to increase the supply of good-paying jobs in Michigan.”
Full Text of the Speech
For the full article, see Chris Christoff, "Amid economic woes, Granholm points to many signs of hope", Detroit Free Press, February 3, 2009. [Red Tape Blog]
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