Green Energy

Green energy is a buzzword in Michigan, what with the state being the automotive capital of the United States, home to General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and other automotive assembly plants. Naturally energy and fuel efficiency must start where production is, and the state's multi-billion dollar automotive industry joins the public clamor for green energy.

In the clean air category and fuel conservation, Michigan is in a strategic position, playing a key role since the state's booming biotechnology industry have close working relations to the giant automotive companies in cooperative efforts like testing new and existing car models with biodiesel blends, access to important research components like hybrid car models, and assessing future car models' compatibility with alternative fuels.

In June 2007, the city of East Lansing unveiled its first E85 ethanol pump produced by the firm H&H Mobil. State governor Jennifer M. Granholm highly endorsed these kinds of investments in alternative fuel like not only to reduce dependence on foreign oil but foremost to protect the environment. Ethanol, sourced from sugarcane, has a high carbon sequestration resulting to cleaner air emission and helps fight global climate change.

The state's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) oversees the regulation and adherence to air quality standards, state limitations on hazardous air emissions, pollutants and toxins and ensure public safety from high levels of air pollution.

A future green energy project in Michigan is harnessing the Great Lake's 99,909 square meter of water system as a valuable alternative power source, tapping its hydro, hydroelectric and wind power potential.