Michigan Invests $2-Billion to Become Alternative Energy Research Hub

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

A story by Alejandro Bodipo-Memba in the Detroit Free Press as reported on Fuel Cell Today:

Feb. 13--The State of Michigan is racing to become the nation's first alternative energy research hub, as Americans grapple with President George W. Bush's recent statement that the United States is addicted to foreign oil.

The initiative calls for investing up to $2 billion in research, development and business incubation and could create thousands of jobs for engineers and other technically skilled Michigan residents if it's successful.

And, given the president's mandate to wean the country off foreign oil, public and private interests in Michigan are pushing aggressively to ensure that the Great Lakes State is the hub for research in alternative energy.

"We want Michigan to be the state that lays claim to this emerging sector," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who pointed out the need to focus on alternative energy research during her State of the State address in January. "To take advantage of that legacy of research and development in the auto industry is a huge opportunity for our state."