LANSING –Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s push for green energy in the state could mean more jobs in Oakland County.

Industry groups are embracing the plan although they express concerns that some private business owners may feel the burden of investing in new technologies.

“You’ve got to make selective investments when things aren’t going well,” said Ron Nelson, director of legislative issues for the Michigan Farm Bureau, referring to the state budget deficit of $800 billion. 

Investing in green energy will create jobs, decrease the state’s reliance on foreign crude oil and protect the environment, he said.

Granholm said her aggressive, three-year effort would attract more alternative energy companies to the state through $100 million in combined public and private investments.  Granholm announced a further goal of producing 10 percent of the state’s energy from renewable sources within eight years.

“It’s a $100 million investment that will support a $60 billion sector – and when the state benefits, Oakland County will benefit,” Nelson said.

Granholm’s plan also includes the installation of 1,000 ethanol and bio-diesel pumps at gas stations throughout the state by 2008.

Gas station owners would be responsible paying for the pumps.

A new fuel pump can cost up to $15,000, and retrofitting an older pump costs from $1,000 to $4,000, said Crystal Bollman of the Michigan Corn Growers Association. 

Jan Patrick of the state Energy Office, said businesses want to see a demand for the product before investing.

Station owners “have to hear the feedback that makes them secure in making an investment,” she said. 

Patrick said there are government grants to help eligible station owners purchase new pumps.   The Biofuels Infrastructure Grants Program covers 50 percent of the cost of such fuel delivery systems.

Mark Beyer of NextEnergy, an alternative energy business accelerator in Detroit that subsidizes service stations that sell biodiesel fuels, said Detroit and Oakland County are in a unique position to benefit from Granholm’s plan.

“They are in the right place to grow the alternative energy industry,” Beyer said.  “The automotive prowess, intellectual work and opportunities to expand are all here.”

A major solar panel manufacturer, United Solar Ovonic, LLC, is based in Auburn Hills.

Granholm will also ask the Legislature to expand renaissance zones to attract new solar and wind energy companies.  A renaissance zone is an economically distressed area that receives temporary relief from certain taxes in order to boost economic growth and development.

The Energy Office’s John Sarver said the agency receives regular inquiries from foreign manufacturers of alternative energy products looking to expand in the U.S.

“They’re looking for states where the infrastructure and demand exists,” he said.           

Robert McCann of the Department of Environmental Quality said producing energy locally will keep money from leaving the state.

“The state spends billions of dollars on energy every year and that money leaves the state,” he said “We don’t have coal and very little oil and natural gas –  and all the energy we purchase, those dollars are leaving the state.”