By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Studies of the alternative energy industry suggest that if Michigan had a strategy to promote green energy innovation the state could generate tens of thousands of new jobs. That strategy would include cultivating manufacturers who produce alternative energy products such as solar panels, wind turbines, as well as other components.
The West Michigan Strategic Alliance (WMSA) and The Right Place, Inc. recently launched an Alternative Energy Cluster Analysis for Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Newaygo counties. That analysis is expected to be the springboard for attracting alternative energy companies to West Michigan and securing a good portion of those potential jobs.
"West Michigan has a history of having a lot of manufacturing capability and unique strengths in machine tooling, die making, and quick turnover for component manufacturing," says Bill Stough of Sustainable Research Group. Stough chairs the study oversight committee.
The analysis, conducted by Richard Polich of Energy Options & Solutions, will compare the production capabilities of the seven-county region—some 2,000 manufacturers—to other parts of Michigan and to the nation. It will also pinpoint gaps in those capabilities, such as the availability of qualified workers.
In 2005, Regional Economic Models, Inc. developed a regional economic model for the WIRED program. That model indicates that about 30 percent of the region's Gross Domestic Product comes from manufacturing, compared to 13.6 percent for the US.
"We're looking for sectors that could replace the declining automotive manufacturing," Stough says. "There's almost a mini gold rush going on with investors pouring money into wind, solar, Biodiesel and ethanol."
Stough expects to have the analysis results by December 1.
Source: Bill Stough, Sustainable Research Group; Greg Northrup, West Michigan Strategic Alliance; George A. Erickcek, WE Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at
[email protected].
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