| Chapter Interlude: | Speech By Mayor Bernero Of Lansing, Michigan |
the engineering department, here and there, that are thinking in new ways, that are looking for new products.
And now, because we announced in the State of [the] City this goal, and we introduced our new electric vehicle, because we did those things that seemed symbolic, we actually have one of the leading alternative-energy companies. I can't say, but—because it's still secret—but we're in negotiations with a company that wants to build the new operation in Lansing that would be all green. It would be green technology. And it would be for a new biofuel-related product. Which would be phenomenal. They will, there will be global demand for this product. And it may be headquartered, based, created in Lansing, Michigan. Because they watched the speech. And they said, “Here's a city that's committed to green; we want to be in a city like that.” And they grew up in Lansing. They graduated from MSU. They have operations in California, and they could go anywhere in the world. But they're thinking about Lansing because of what we did.
So, not only is it the right thing to do for our future. It's the right thing to do, morally, for our children. There's economic development value in saying, “We're going green.” Because in the future, that's where it's at. [“Right on,” from the crowd.] It's, it's about sustainability. [applause] It's about sustainability.
To think—I won't go on; I know we've got other people to hear from. I'm excited about this. I'm excited about this. People who know me know that it may take me a while, you know, I can be dense, it may take me a while to get there, but once I'm there, I'm committed. And we are committed to sustainability.
I'm convinced. Before, I thought I could get economic development. See, I was obsessed with economic development. I was too busy to really consider all this stuff. The reality is, sustainable economic development is where it's at. And, you do the right thing and, and it makes good sense economically. It will attract the right people. It will attract the creative class. It's the growth model for the future. So, it will pay off. It will pay dividends.