From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 2:53 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
 
Governor Announces Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing Awards That Will Create, Retain More Than 700 Jobs
 
This afternoon the governor announced that five small Michigan manufacturing firms have won $15.5 million in Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing awards to help them diversify into advanced manufacturing of renewable-energy systems and components.  The awards, which are funded through the federal Recovery Act, will enable the companies to create and retain 713 jobs over the next two years
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The companies are Astraeus Wind Energy in Eaton Rapids, Energetx Composites in Holland, Loc Performance Products in Plymouth, Luma Resources in Rochester Hills and Merrill Technologies Group in Saginaw.  The companies will be manufacturing either components for wind turbines or solar panel products.
 
Key messages:
 
•  Providing Recovery Act funds to help Michigan’s small manufacturers diversify into renewable energy will help create jobs and strengthen our economy by building on Michigan’s natural strength which is our world-class manufacturing tradition.
 
•  These awards also will help Michigan meet its energy goals by expanding production of energy from renewable sources like wind and solar.
 
•  In the last five years, Michigan has committed more than $1 billion to help alternative-energy and advanced-battery companies locate and grow here, including $700 million in advanced-battery credits, $43 million in Centers of Energy Excellence and $370 million in tax incentives to attract and grow renewable-energy companies.
 
•  Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind program has enrolled more than 100,000 people in job training, and Michigan colleges and training providers have added or updated more than 9,000 education programs to help ensure that Michigan workers have the skills they need to transition to good-paying jobs in fast-growing sectors like renewable-energy manufacturing.
 
•  Recovery Act funding has been awarded to several Michigan companies looking to grow and create jobs in the state’s clean energy economy, including:
 
–  Twelve projects that shared more than $1.35 billion to support advanced-battery and electric-vehicle manufacturing and development
–  Two projects focused on carbon capture and sequestration
–  Three awards to expand smart-grid technology in Michigan
–  An alternative fuels vehicle pilot project
–  Two grants to expand research of alternative fuels
–  Research in geothermal technologies
–  An $18 million award last week to Alpena-based American Process, Inc. to accelerate production of the next generation of biofuels
 
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