Subject: What the Governor is Talking About Today
What the Governor’s Talking About Today
Thursday, February 18, 2010
 
Governor Applauds U.S. Department of Energy Award to Flint Center of Energy Excellence
The governor today applauded a $951,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance the production of biogas and biomethane at the Flint Center of Energy Excellence.
 
The project is a collaborative effort among Swedish Biogas International, the city of Flint, Kettering University and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on a waste-to-energy/biomethane center at the city of Flint’s wastewater treatment facility.
 
Joining the governor today in Flint for the grant announcement were Flint Mayor Dayne Walling, Kettering University Provost Dr. Michael Harris and Swedish Biogas International CEO Tom Guise.
 
Key messages:
 
•  We are working hard to make Michigan the clean-energy capital of North America, and today’s Department of Energy award of nearly $1 million moves us closer toward that goal.  Our investments in green, clean-energy manufacturing are creating jobs and helping Michigan transition to a new 21st century economy.
 
•  The Flint Center of Energy Excellence is one of six Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE) throughout the state originally chartered with $43 million from the 21st Century Jobs Fund.  The COEE program, signed into law by the governor in 2008, brings companies, academic institutions and the state together to support cutting-edge research and development and pioneer new alternative-energy technologies.
 
•  The state’s additional centers are A123Systems, Inc. and Sakti3 in Ann Arbor (advanced batteries), Working Bugs LLC in East Lansing, American Process Inc. in Alpena and Mascoma Corporation in Kinross in the eastern Upper Peninsula (advanced biofuels).
 
•  Last month, the governor announced an investment of $30 million to launch a second round of the COEE program.
 
Governor, Congressman Levin, U.S. Trade Representative Kirk to Hold Business Roundtable Friday in Warren

The governor and Congressman Sander Levin will join U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk on Friday at the GM Tech Center in Warren for a business roundtable discussion on trade policies and ways to increase Michigan exports.
 
Among those participating in the roundtable discussion will be businessmen and women from throughout southeast Michigan who are interested in export opportunities.
 
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