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BROWN WIXOM PRESS CONFERENCE

Michigan is in a prime position to lead the way in revolutionizing the way the world powers it's homes, it's businesses and it's vehicles.  Emerging industries, like alternative energy and advanced batteries present a huge economic opportunity for the state as well the job growth we need to turn things around in Michigan.  However, other states are aggressively pursuing businesses in the same industries. 
So we must act now if we want to capitalize on the 1000's of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars these industries are looking to invest.  Bringing Texas-based Extreme Power to Wixom will create 2,500 jobs alone.  My bill will increase the number of Michigan Business Tax Credits available for advanced batteries from 4 to 5 and allow Extreme Power tax credits of up to 100 million dollars over 4 years.  Now, let me tell you why this additional tax credit for advanced batteries is crucial.  The battery credits created by my bill differ from existing credits for advanced batteries because the batteries Extreme Power creates are not for transportation.  Extreme Power specializes in large scale commercial batteries used to store energy for use in traditional delivery systems like the current power grid.  And as you know, our grid is the infrastructure that brings electricity from power plants to homes and businesses.  In order to fully capitalize on the promise of renewable energy, like solar and wind power, our nation needs more advanced storage technology.  We need a smart grid that uses energy more efficiently and stores extra energy for when it's needed the most.  This is the wave of the future and Michigan must seize this opportunity to lead.  Now another reason why this plan is so important is this is going to be the first large scale conversion of a Michigan manufacturing plant from car production to alternative energy.  Once clairvoyant energy and Extreme Power locate in Wixom they will serve as the anchor for the energy park and help attract other alternative energy companies and suppliers to Michigan.  I can't say this enough, time is of the essence, we must pass these credits quickly or we risk losing the federal loans that will keep this project in Michigan.  And by losing this project we'll be losing thousands of jobs for our state and we'll be losing them to other states.  Our hard-working families who are struggling now, are also a cornerstone for our success.  They are the best workers in the world and given the chance they will produce products that are second to none.  Developing the Wixom energy park is just the type of investment we need to bring jobs in Michigan.  And these jobs, this isn't about partisanship, this is about creating jobs, they're not republican jobs, they're not democrat jobs they are Michigan jobs and it's about moving Michigan forward and making Michigan a leader in alternative energy and advanced battery manufacturing.