A coalition of Michigan businesses, agriculture, health care professionals and labor today called on Michigan to support a ballot proposal that raises the state’s renewable energy standard to 25 percent by 2025, a move that will help create jobs while protecting consumers.

“This proposal will create thousands of new Michigan jobs that can’t be outsourced, attract $10 billion in new investments and rebuild Michigan’s economy,” said Jeff Metts, CEO of Astraeus Wind, a manufacturing company based in Eaton Rapids. “A higher renewable energy standard will spur innovation and open the doors of opportunity for Michigan entrepreneurs. Michigan put the world on wheels, a higher renewable energy standard can help us become a leader in a new energy future.”

“A higher renewable energy standard will diversify Michigan’s manufacturing industry by deploying existing infrastructure and our skilled workforce to make Michigan a leader in the new energy economy,” said Steve Busch of Energetx Composites, a Holland-based company that diversified its yacht-manufacturing business and today makes parts for the wind sector. “All across Michigan, manufacturing businesses are retooling to seize new opportunities and help put people back to work. This proposal will help Michigan businesses compete, succeed and put our economy back on track.”

“Michigan farmers support renewable energy because it helps us protect the water, land and air that we need to grow crops today and into the future,” said Kent Humm, a seventh-generation farmer who is hosting four turbines on land he leased to Invenergy and DTE Energy, which are building Michigan’s largest wind farm in Gratiot County. “Renewable energy projects are being built on farms and rural communities across Michigan. They’re directly supporting farm families and rural communities.”

“Renewable energy is all about rural development – from jobs to infrastructure to income,” said Jim Byrum, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “That’s why our Association is very interested in this proposal to increase our state’s renewable energy standard.”

“Clean renewable energy allows Michigan to power our economy without polluting our land, air and water with mercury, arsenic and other contaminants that put people’s health at risk,” said Ken Fletcher, Michigan Nurses Association associate executive director. “Michigan nurses and other health care professionals have long warned about the need to tackle rising incidences of asthma, lung diseases and other illnesses that endanger our families. More non-polluting renewable energy is the way forward to rebuild our economy, while protecting public health.”

“Michigan workers have the skills and the training to compete with anyone in the world, and they’re ready to help build Michigan’s new energy economy,” said Mark Schauer, national co-chair of the Blue Green Alliance’s Jobs21! Campaign. “This proposal to increase Michigan’s renewable energy standard creates new jobs and new opportunities in one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy today. It creates jobs and protects consumers from excessive rate increases, making this proposal a win-win for workers and rate-payers.”

“The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324 strongly supports strengthening Michigan’s clean renewable energy standard because it will create thousands of jobs right here in our state, where we have some of the best-trained workers in the world,” said John Hamilton, general vice president and business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324. “The proposal can make Michigan a leader in the clean renewable energy sector, attracting billions of dollars in private investments and creating thousands of good jobs for Michigan workers.”