Alternative Energy is Key to Alternative Energy is Key to Economic PlanEconomic Plan

By: Katherine YungDetroit Free Press Sunday Sept 21st,2008- Pg 1A

Project Created by Taryn Kovach 9/22/08

Projects PlansProjects Plans• Making Michigan a supplier

of new alternative forms of energy.

• Create tens of thousands to jobs help boost the economy & help off- set those lost by autoworkers.

• Will create jobs as suppliers, installers, and builders to create & run wind farms & produce ethanol.

• By 2015, lawmakers want 10% of Michigan’s electricity to come from renewable sources

NextDiesel fuel from pg 14A

Currently In MichiganCurrently In Michigan

• In Saginaw, a billion dollar plant expansion for Hemlock Semiconductor which produces a key ingredient used to make solar cells

• In Adrian, NextDiesel is producing millions of gallons of renewable fuel using corn oil.

• In Erie, Ort machine shop takes orders for solar & wind energy companies.

NextDiesel plant in Adrian, MI Pg 14A

LEADING THE LEADING THE PACKPACK

FROM PG 14AFROM PG 14A

Since 2003, alternative energy has received more grants, tax breaks, & incentives than Michigan’s 4 other major industries combined

Sector Jobs Created

Jobs Retained

Public Investment ($ millions)

Alternative Energy 5,232 2,557 $803.2

Life Sciences 8,777 6,665 $373.9

Technology 7,886 8,848 $196.2

Advanced Manufacturing

4,348 10,271 $139.9

Homeland Security

972 206 $33.3

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp. from pg 14A

The Downside…The Downside…

• Other states have more aggressive incentive programs

• Some are offering as much funding per project, as Michigan is receiving for the project as a whole.

• Doesn’t require as many workers, so will only create minor economic off-set of the 460,000 auto jobs lost.

• Robert Milano, Ort’s President, also stated “The opportunity is so big that it’s hard to grow as much as we can”.

• Technology has not yet been proven on a large commercial scale to know if it is efficient.

• Getting the renewable energies to consumers & businesses will require some major investments.

So This Means…So This Means…

Funding for Renewable Energy Jobs• Blue line indicated

current amount of jobs available at given funding

• Green line indicates the amount of jobs available if funding were to increase

• Therefore, as funding increases and becomes more available, the amount of jobs created will also increase.

Funding Available

Jobs Created

F2

F1

J1 J2