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Gov. Doyle co-hosts clean energy forum in Michigan

Officials convene to talk about working to enact legislation

Gov. Jim Doyle co-hosted a clean energy forum in Michigan earlier this week to announce President Obama’s comprehensive energy plan.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke also attended the Clean Energy Economy Forum Sept. 2.

Doyle and Locke held a teleconference directly after the event to field questions from the press and further explain aspects of the energy plan.

“[Clean energy] has been one of the primary emphases that I have had as governor,” Doyle said. “We have put huge amounts of resources and effort into really building a renewable economy in Wisconsin.”

Doyle said the revenue provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has played a key role in funding energy-saving programs, such as weatherization, and has helped create more jobs in green-manufacturing.

Doyle also referenced the opening of Cardinal Glass Industries’ new solar technologies facility in Mazomanie, Wis., as a step in the right direction for the state in terms of job creation and green energy manufacturing.

Locke said many of the business professionals present were greatly in favor of the clean energy legislation currently pending in the U.S. Senate.

“[The business leaders] wanted a more comprehensive energy policy for the United States so they knew exactly how they could proceed,” Locke said. “Many were talking about ideas and technology they were ready to deploy, but they weren’t willing to go forward without knowing how Congress would move forward.”

Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he is satisfied Doyle is supporting progressive federal legislation that will boost the country toward reducing its carbon footprint.

“I am very pleased to see the governor is coming forward to support necessary legislation to control global warming and decrease dependence on oil,” Black said.

Black added he is currently working on comprehensive legislation to control state global warming problems and create clean energy jobs. This act, he said, will require that 25 percent of all energy consumed in the state come from renewable resources.

Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, said he is unaware of any specific plans Doyle has concerning green energy projects.

“I am disappointed. As someone who served on Doyle’s Task Force on Global Warning, I would have hoped to be included,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery agreed solar and wind power are great ideas, but did not think it would be possible to lessen oil dependence with these alternatives alone.

“I am a proponent of conservation,” Montgomery said. “However, it is intellectually dishonest to tell Wisconsin residents they can get to 25 percent dependence on green energy without nuclear power or increasing costs to the middle class and manufacturers.”

Montgomery added it is difficult to see how an economy that is approximately 70 percent dependent on coal can convert to just solar power, wind power or green-energy conservation without substantially increasing costs.

Ed Montgomery — head of the White House Council on Auto Communities and Workers — Assistant Energy Secretary David Sandalow and a diverse group of regional shareholders and business leaders were also in attendance.