EM:/ Vice President Visits Detroit To Make Advanced Battery Announcement

For Immediate Release Contact: Mark Neisler 
August 5, 2009 Global Climate Change Specialist 
Michigan LCVEF 
(517)-230-1519 





Activists Cheer as Biden Announces Clean Energy Investments in Detroit 

Report: Investing in clean energy will create 54,000 Mich. jobs 



DETROIT – Grassroots organizations rallied today as Vice President Joe Biden visited downtown Detroit to announce $2 billion in advanced battery grants, highlighting Michigan’s potential to be a leader in the rapidly growing field of clean energy production. 



“Investments in clean energy will bring thousands of new jobs to Michigan and help get our hard-working residents back to work,” said Mark Neisler , of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. “From the production of advanced batteries for the next generation of autos to wind turbines and solar panels, Michigan workers have the skills and the expertise to make our state a leader in the production of clean energy. There is a revolution coming to Michigan – a revolution that will create jobs and give our working families a boost.” 



Biden came to Detroit to discuss the steps the White House has taken to rescue the U.S. economy and the long-term investments being made to rebuild for the future. During the event, Biden was to announce the first round of $2 billion in federal battery research grants. 



A study released in June by the Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts , Amherst , found that investments in Michigan ’s clean-energy economy will create 54,000 jobs and help stimulate Michigan ’s economy. 



The clean energy industry already is creating jobs in Michigan . Between 1998 and 2007, jobs in the clean energy economy increased even as total jobs in the state declined, according to The Clean Energy Economy report released by The Pew Charitable Trusts. 



“As we work to turn our own economy around here in the Great Lakes State , we need to recognize the potential that the clean energy industry holds for our workers,” Neisler said. “ Michigan has been hit harder than any other state by the national recession. Clean energy investments will create good-paying jobs in Michigan , it’s just that simple.” 



Groups that joined the rally included the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Environment Michigan, National Wildlife Federation and RePower Michigan, among others. 



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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Bill Kirk 
Communications Director 
Michigan League of Conservation Voters 
Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund 
www.michiganlcv.org 
www.michiganlcvedfund.org 
616.459.6459-office 
616.459.6469-fax 
bill at michiganlcv.org 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

~Celebrating 10 Years of Turning Environmental Values into Community Priorities~ 
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