What About Clean Energy? Granholm 8, Bishop 0

In tonight’s “State of the State” address, Governor Granholm mentioned energy on nearly eight different occasions. The Governor outlined how investment and progress in advanced battery manufacturing, solar technology, and other clean energy projects have begun to create jobs and reinvent our manufacturing economy.

Meanwhile, Senator Bishop, who delivered the GOP response, mentioned the importance of clean energy to Michigan’s economic recovery zero times. He said nothing about utilizing our manufacturing base to help Michigan’s economy recover and diversify our industries.

Granholm discussed the Recovery Act’s ability to invest in resources for the “clean-energy sector of our economy” and how Michigan was turning to focus on its “green belt”. Bishop, instead, talked about budget cuts. Granholm even extensively congratulated Dow’s contributions to advancements in solar energy and encouraged more investments in solar companies and growing this sector. She emphasized that job growth in the “new” Michigan will continue as long as we continue to embrace new battery technology, solar power, wind power, and capitalize on the fact that Michigan’s outstanding manufacturing base is just the place to build for the future. In addressing the 2008 Energy Bill, she mentioned how focusing on alternative energy resulted in the founding of the company CLEAResult, which provided more jobs. Again, Bishop missed the opportunity to comment on clean energy as part of a new Michigan economy.

Read Granholm’s transcript here.

The closest Bishop came to addressing environmental issues was the following statement:

“General Motors, for example, has already taken advantage of a new law passed by the Legislature in December that gives Michigan a competitive leg-up to build batteries for hybrid and electric cars. This is public policy that helps us grow this innovative industry, right here in Michigan!”

You can watch Bishop deliver his response here.

Apparently, Senator Bishop doesn’t believe that clean energy or protection of Michigan’s natural resources are critical factors in rebuilding Michigan’s economy.