Gov. Jim Doyle addressed Wisconsin's clean-energy initiatives and abilities at the opening session of the Bioenergy Summit Thursday.
Doyle stressed the importance of clean-energy development as a way of freeing the nation from its addiction to oil and securing its economy.
As long as we continue on our old energy course, we will be pouring money out of Wisconsin and into big oil companies and foreign nations,"" Doyle said.
He said he believes Wisconsin can become the leading state in clean-energy technology.
""We must work together to achieve the energy independence that will save us money, clean our air and water, and create good jobs for hard-working families. Wisconsin has the talent and resources to become the clean energy state, and now is the time for us to commit to it.""
Doyle compared Wisconsin's anticipated shift in energy industries to the state's successful switch from wheat production to dairy a century ago.
""The good news is that here in Wisconsin, we know how to get it done, and we are not daunted by this big transformation,"" he said.
The governor detailed his comprehensive Clean Energy Wisconsin plan. Its goals are to generate 25 percent of the state's energy from renewable sources by 2025, to capture 10 percent of the market share for renewable energy and to use research capabilities to become a leader in clean-energy technology.
Doyle said he has already seen the effects of this plan in many recent industrial innovations around Wisconsin.
""It doesn't get much better than this, to imagine [building] a major part of our economy around helping clean up the environment of the world.""
Molly Jahn, dean of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, introduced Doyle, calling him ""a champion who has played an essential role in so many ways toward bringing us to this point, a champion who '¦ will lead us toward that revolutionary energy future.""
The Bioenergy Summit, sponsored by the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative, also featured panel discussions with Doyle cabinet members and private-sector leaders. The conference will continue until noon Friday at Microbial Sciences.
