The Impact of the Growing Clean Energy Industry in Michigan

Here in Michigan, a fairly new trade group, the Energy Innovation Business Council, foresees the demand for clean energy?including biomass, solar and wind power?will grow substantially by 2015, not only statewide, but also nationally and globally. In the last few years, sustainability has become one of America?s biggest concerns.

You may have noticed that Detroit has been in the news a lot lately. General Motors (GM) is again the number one automaker in the world, and Ford is investing billions of dollars in American plants and factories to bring jobs back from overseas. The work done in Detroit has created 200,000 new jobs in the past two and a half years. Recently, President Barack Obama praised the Detroit auto companies for making a difference in the clean energy industry in Michigan.

This is precisely why the trade group believes Michigan has a competitive advantage in the clean energy industry, simply because they have always been known for their auto manufacturing.

They believe they can reinvent themselves in the clean energy industry in Michigan.

The council recently completed a study in which it found that the clean energy industry could have the potential to create an annual average economic impact of $4.9 million on Michigan, including 21,791 jobs supported and $163.7 million in local and state revenues. This data supports the idea that the clean energy industry brings benefits that are twofold?not only does it create jobs, but it helps to ensure that we preserve our environment and reduce our dependency on foreign sources of energy.

If the state wants to continue encouraging growth in the clean energy industry, the EIBC suggests starting educational campaigns promoting sustainable energy and incentive programs for state manufacturers.

The Energy Innovation Business Council just launched in February 2012, and is made up of over 30 Michigan-based companies that have an interest in sustainable energy and the potential it has to be a powerful new industry for the state.

The organization?s goal is to diversify and grow the clean energy industry in Michigan.

The EIBC does not currently plan on seeking government subsidiaries or tax breaks, but the group?s president, Ed Clemente, encourages state policymakers to take a look at all of the energy options and policies that help diversify the clean energy industry in Michigan. While the auto sector continues to be what Michigan is known for industrially, the state is making great strides in diversifying the types of businesses that look to make Michigan home.

Source: http://society.ezinemark.com/the-impact-of-the-growing-clean-energy-industry-in-michigan-7d34ba38a695.html

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