Gov. Doyle: Announces next steps in clean energy partnership with Manitoba

Contact: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

CHICAGO – Governor Jim Doyle and Manitoban Premier Greg Selinger today announced the first two joint bilateral workshops between Wisconsin and Manitoba on building a clean energy economy. The first workshop, focusing on regional climate modeling, will be held in Winnipeg this summer. The second workshop, focusing on the clean energy economy and growing clean energy jobs, will be held in Wisconsin this summer. Further details on the workshops will be announced in the near future.

“Our continued work with Manitoba and our joint efforts to focus on growing clean energy businesses and clean energy jobs will help drive innovation and grow our economies,” Governor Doyle said. “These workshops will provide a collaborative approach to help build on Wisconsin’s successful work to develop a strong clean energy economy and good jobs.”

These are the first in a series of workshops originally announced by Governor Doyle and Premier Selinger at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark last December. The workshops are a first step towards implementing the Wisconsin-Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding signed in October of 2009.

Additional workshops later in the year will address bioenergy and agriculture and watershed management. The workshops will be jointly organized by state and provincial government departments.

Manitoba and Wisconsin share many perspectives related to climate change and renewable energy measures, and work together as partners in the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord.

In October 2009, Wisconsin and Manitoba signed a Memorandum of Understanding promoting the growth of innovation through collaboration, commercialization and bilateral trade. The agreement promotes a working relationship between Wisconsin and Manitoba and builds upon current efforts to advance emerging technologies and enhance the mid-continent knowledge “IQ” corridor.

Since taking office, Governor Doyle has advanced an aggressive agenda to position Wisconsin as a leader in a growing clean energy economy. Wisconsin has adopted renewable portfolio standards, invested in clean energy job creation, led the advancement of research in cellulosic ethanol and biomass, and made great strides to increase energy efficiency in homes, businesses and government buildings. As a result, Wisconsin has seen a rapid expansion in alternative energy production and real growth in clean energy jobs.