Obama's Visit to Detroit Signals a Step in the Right Direction

President Obama arrives in Michigan today to visit automobile plants around Detroit where the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Volt are being manufactured. The Chevrolet Volt is the future of automobiles: an electric car that uses gas to create its own electricity and can run up to 40 miles gas and emission free. The batteries for the Chevrolet Volt are produced at GM's assembly plant in Brownstown, Michigan, bringing much needed job opportunities and economic growth to our state.

Ford currently plans to release its first electric vehicle, the Transit Connect Electric in late 2010. The Transit Connect Electric is an electric powered version of the Transit Connect, a small commercial van that won the 2010 North American Truck of the Year award. The Transit Connect Electric has a targeted range of 80 miles per charge and zero emissions released. Ford also plans on releasing an electric Focus in 2011, followed by a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012 and a next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012.

The President's trip demonstrates Michigan's kick off to a new age of clean energy economy and putting our manufacturing base back to work producing cars like the Volt. This is an example of the kind of leadership we need: lawmakers who embrace this clean energy economy. With the upcoming primary elections on August 3rd, we must elect politicians who will advocate for this type of industry that has the potential to move Michigan into the future instead of holding us in the past.