Plan To Encourage The Production Of Alternative Fuels A Possibility

Renewable Energy Is An Emerging Industry And Michigan Is On Track...

June 29, 2008
By: MyBayCity Staff

House Democrats today passed a plan that will encourage the increased production of renewable energy in Michigan, a move that will encourage job growth in cutting-edge fields and make Michigan a powerhouse of the 21st century global economy.

"Michigan has tremendous potential to become a leader in the production of clean, affordable renewable energy," said State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard). "Renewable energy is an emerging industry that is producing thousands of good-paying jobs and garnering millions of dollars in investment. This plan will allow us to use our technological know-how, our highly skilled workforce and our gifted universities to make Michigan a magnet for these 21st century employers."

The renewable energy plan will:

Create a tax exemption for machinery used to harvest biomass.

Expand the role of the Renewable Fuels Commission, which provides elected officials, agency personnel and media representatives with important insight during the policy making process, and extend the sunset on the Commission until 2012.

Encourage the offering of insurance discounts for alternative energy vehicles in Michigan.

"By increasing the production of renewable energy, we will take control of our own economic future by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and coal and gas from other states," said State Representative Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City), a longtime advocate of renewable energy. "This plan will jumpstart our economy and help create thousands of good-paying jobs for our workers as we work to diversify our economy."