By executive order, I created the Michigan Climate Action Council to develop a comprehensive climate action plan for the state. The plan will provide recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan and will build upon previous measures to reduce our reliance on energy sources from outside our borders.

The council, comprised of 35 representatives from public interest groups, environmental organizations, utilities, the manufacturing sector, and other key industries, universities, and state and local government, will compile an inventory and forecast of greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan and produce a plan for reducing those gasses.

An interim report from the council that includes a list of policy recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including short-, mid-, and long-term reduction goals, will be submitted to me by April 30, 2008. A final report with a detailed analysis of specific recommendations is due by December 31, 2008.

The strategies and technologies we develop to address climate change can be opportunities for job growth and alternative energy industry growth in Michigan. Developing clean renewable energy technologies will power Michigan into a future that will provide more energy security and reliability.

I also joined governors from other Midwestern states in Milwaukee to adopt a regional platform for energy security and climate stewardship. Citizens across the country are grappling with the impact of global warming, the nation's reliance on foreign oil, the rising costs of fuel, and the impact those things have on both our environment and our economy. Working together to reduce global warming can put people to work and protect our environment.

By executive directive, I have charged my administration to do all it can to reduce its own energy consumption by 10 percent by the end of 2008. The state will meet this new goal through the aggressive implementation of new energy efficiency measures. As part of the directive, the state will, wherever feasible, increase use of alternative fuels in its fleet of vehicles; develop a materials management plan to ensure environmentally sound purchasing, use, reuse and recycling of materials by state departments; and ensure that new state-owned or leased buildings meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The state will also reduce its electrical energy purchases by 20 percent by 2015.