Anticipate the puck; Alternative energy will mean jobs for Michigan.Venture capitalist Venture Capitalist An investor who provides capital to either start-up ventures or support small companies who wish to expand but do not have access to public funding. Notes: Venture capitalists usually expect higher returns for the additional risks taken. John Doerr L. John Doerr (born June 29, 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a successful venture capitalist at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers in Menlo Park, California, in the Silicon Valley. , the Silicon Valley visionary, is predicting green technology will be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century. He's not saying this because he's a tree-hugging environmentalist environmentalist a person with an interest and knowledge about the interaction of humans and animals with the environment. . He's saying this because he's a hard-nosed capitalist. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The need to reduce global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. and end our dependence on expensive foreign oil is pushing the development of home-grown renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. sources to breakneck break·neck adj. 1. Dangerously fast: a breakneck pace. 2. Likely to cause an accident: a breakneck curve. speed. Government policies like the federal production tax credit for renewable energy and oncoming likelihood of federal carbon regulation, which I should note the presidential contenders support, are helping speed the industry's growth. The old theory that anything that benefits the environment must somehow hurt economic growth is quickly becoming ancient history. Venture capitalists, bankers and entrepreneurs realize that being green can earn them some green, There will be literally trillions of dollars invested into the energy sector over the next few decades, and I want Michigan to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. that green revolution. It will mean tens of thousands of jobs for Michigan workers. Michigan is uniquely positioned to prosper economically from the renewable energy boom. Our untapped Wind resources offer us an almost unlimited source of clean, zero-carbon electricity. Our productive farm and forest land can be put to use to grow the fuels of the future. Our universities and corporate research centers are becoming world leaders For a list of heads of state, see . World leaders is a MMORPG. The game involves creating a state, joining an alliance and going into war. It is mostly played by players from Israel, China, USA, Britain, Brazil and Saudi-Arabia. in alternative energy science. And our manufacturing know-how can build the components of the green energy economy. This opportunity couldn't come at a better time. It is absolutely critical that we diversify Michigan's economy, and we have the ability to do so by leveraging the great W's-wind, wood, water, workforce, wheels, and even waste. Consider these facts: The unique geography of our peninsulas makes us windy, giving us the second best potential for wind generation and manufacturing production in the country. The natural movement, the waves of our Great Lakes waters, creates enormous energy. The wood waste from the pulp and paper industry The global pulp and paper industry is dominated by North American (United States, Canada), northern European (Finland, Sweden) and East Asian countries (such as Japan). Australasia and Latin America also have significant pulp and paper industries. is being used to produce the next generation of cellulosic biofuels. We also need to build off our Michigan wheels. We are the automotive research capital of the world, building the engines of the future: hybrids, clean diesel, electric, fuel cells, flexfuel-all of that is being, and will continue to be, researched, designed and produced right here in Michigan. Companies are taking household trash in landfills and converting it to green energy. While I'm still working on how to describe solar power with a "w"-it represents a great opportunity for Michigan growth as well. Today, nearly 30 states have a Renewable Portfolio Standard-an RPS-that ensures that a percentage of the energy they use will come from renewable sources. That commitment is attracting companies and jobs that know there is a market in those states for their products and services. All of this explains why we are working for a comprehensive energy package in Lansing that includes an RPS rps abbr. revolutions per second of 10 percent by 2015. When people ask why we are so excited about the opportunities for renewable energy in Michigan, I usually borrow a line from Wayne Gretzky-if you want to win, "don't skate to where the puck is-skate to where the puck is going." The puck is going to alternative energy. By Governor Jennifer M. Granholm |
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