The Demo Site

Ed Montgomery, known as President Barack Obama’s ‘car czar’ was in Detroit yesterday to answer questions of some 100 state, local and county leaders on how to get a piece of the $76.7 million in energy and conservation dollars set aside for Michigan in the stimulus package.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm said that the need for help “cannot be overstated” as GM heads towards a possible bankruptcy by the end of the month.

Rather than focusing on energy efficiency and conservation block grant funds, Granholm said that the more immediate issue is the next 60 to 90 days. 

“We are in the next week going to see some massive change in our economy. Whatever happens in the next week, we know that things are going to go dark for a while,” Granholm said. “The urgency cannot be overstated. We need to provide the suppliers a means to get through” the next two to three months.

Granholm said that GM and its suppliers will be strong even if they are forced into bankruptcy. She said that as Michigan moves toward a ‘green economy, having access to funds is extremely important.’

Source: Detroit News