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Strickland Engineers Plan to Revive Rail Lines

Ohio – At the request of Gov. Ted Strickland, the nation’s passenger rail operator is looking at restoring lines to Ohio cities that have been without them for decades. The governor asked Amtrak in a Feb. 26 letter to evaluate how practical it would be to restore a passenger rail line to Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, with stops in other cities along the route. The governor said adding passenger service would help Ohio’s cities create jobs and attract new business. “Investment in a rail transportation system that links metropolitan areas with passenger rail service, while improving freight commerce, would represent one such [development] tool,” Mr. Strickland wrote.
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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT NEWS

IA – Culver Promotes Energy Policy. When the winter meeting of the National Governors Association convened late last month in Washington, D.C., renewable energy was a major topic. Gov. Chet Culver took his attendance at this important conference to announce a detailed energy proposal for the Hawkeye State. Not surprisingly, Culver sees reducing Iowa’s dependence on imported oil and improving energy efficiency as priorities. Iowa has been a leader in developing biofuels and other renewable sources of energy. ‘’I believe now is Iowa’s time to be the national leader when it comes to securing a clean energy future, and my energy proposal will help us do just that. This legislation will assure Iowa’s continued leadership in energy conservation efforts and renewable energy. I look forward to working with the Legislature to pass this initiative quickly to ensure Iowa stays at the forefront of the green energy revolution,” Culver said.
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KY – Beshear Pledges Support to Coal-to-Gas Plant, Greener State. Gov. Steve Beshear says his administration will do whatever it can to help bring a coal-to-gas plant to western Kentucky but that the state must also find ways to protect the environment. St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corp. has proposed a $3 billion plant for western Kentucky to convert coal to a cleaner-burning synthetic natural gas. The state was chosen after Kentucky’s Economic Development Finance Authority agreed to provide $250 million in tax incentives to a Peabody subsidiary. Beshear says protecting the environment doesn’t mean losing jobs and that Kentucky should find ways to use coal that are greener. He says his administration is working with school systems to urge them to build more energy-efficient buildings.
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MI – Granholm Visits Alternative Energy Plant. Gov. Jennifer Granholm toured the United Solar Ovonic Plant in Greenville, praising the company for its innovation in alternative energy. The solar energy company is the latest stop on the governor’s alternative energy tour across Michigan. On one floor of the plant, light-weight, stainless steel solar panels are made. When put on a roof, they convert sunlight into electricity. The company’s CEO says the demand for these panels is literally through the roof. So much so that they’re building a whole new plant just next door and adding two hundred more jobs. The governor says if the state plays its cards right to attract new companies, it could bring more than seventy thousand new jobs to Michigan.
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WV – Manchin Pleased with Clean-Coal Plant Approval. West Virginia regulators have approved American Electric Power’s plan to build a $2.23 billion clean-coal plant in Mason County. The plant is believed to be cleaner than conventional coal-fired plants because it burns gas made from coal to produce electricity. “We’re very pleased with the decision,” said Lara Ramsburg, spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin. “In terms of the investment that’s going to be made in our state, that’s something we’re very enthusiastic about.”
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WY – Freudenthal Signs Bills to Develop Carbon Technology. Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed two measures into law that resolve ownership and regulation issues critical to the state’s effort to lead the way on developing technologies to capture carbon gas and other emissions from coal-fired power plants. Freudenthal and top state lawmakers say enacting the two carbon-capture laws puts Wyoming, the nation’s top coal-producing state, at the forefront of efforts to combat global warming. “It is clear that these two pieces of legislation are the most thorough pieces of legislation passed anywhere in the country,” Freudenthal said.
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GENERAL NEWS

OK – Senate Approves Henry’s Research Fund. The Oklahoma Senate has approved Gov. Brad Henry’s plan to create a permanent funding mechanism for a fund set up to bolster research that will create high paying jobs. The governor’s goal is to eventually build the fund to $1 billion. So far, only $150 million has been deposited into the endowment. Henry said the fund will produce high-tech jobs needed for the state’s economic development.
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OR – Kulongoski Bill to Aid Families of Fallen Soldiers. Immediate family members of deceased soldiers and disabled veterans hurt or killed since Sept. 11 will likely qualify for a tuition waiver at Oregon University System schools and Oregon Health and Sciences University. Senate Bill 1066, introduced by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, has been approved by Oregon legislators and awaits the governor’s signature.
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PA – Rendell Assembles Top Tourism and Economic Development Experts for Conference. Gov. Ed Rendell has secured a high profile cast of experts in the field of place-based tourism and economic development for “Destination Pennsylvania: The Governor’s Conference on Tourism,” in Gettysburg. “It is my goal to offer a valuable experience for our community builders and tourism professionals on how to transform the assets of their communities into a tourism experience that will boost the economy and create jobs,” Governor Rendell said. “We want to fill this conference with representatives from the fields of conservation and green initiatives, Main Street and small businesses, along with community leaders.”
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TN – Bredesen Plan Expands Nursing Home Alternatives. Gov. Phil Bredesen rolled out his long-term care reforms, saying he wants to simplify a fragmented system, expand choices and make it easier for elderly and disabled Tennesseans to avoid nursing homes and remain at home. The governor said the Long-Term Community Choices Act of 2008 represents a “fundamental restructuring” of how care is provided through the state’s TennCare program. “We’re trying to add some real choice in here, to say that we owe an opportunity for people to not simply have a single choice between taking care of themselves at home and then going to a nursing home,” he said. Over the next six to 10 years, officials hope as many as 50 percent of people needing long-term can remain in home settings.
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WI – Doyle Launches Plan for Next Generation Manufacturing. Gov. Jim Doyle announced a plan to propel Wisconsin manufacturers into the next generation by focusing on efficiency and lean manufacturing principles. The plan, called Next Generation Manufacturing, will target $85 million in existing and new tax credits to leverage $1.6 billion in private capital investment, creating 5,000 new jobs and training 4,000 workers for the jobs of tomorrow. “Wisconsin is home to the best manufacturing companies in the world,” Gov. Doyle said. “To remain competitive, our manufacturers must continue to become leaner and more efficient. This plan will build on our success, helping Wisconsin manufacturers modernize and access the support they need to compete in the global economy.”
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