Thompson: Green = Greenbacks
Dem nominee would steer jobs incentives to energy, environmental companies
By Eric Berman
7/30/2008

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson wants to steer Indiana's economic incentives toward environmentally-friendly jobs and companies:

Former Governor Frank O'Bannon created the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund to provide state seed money for high-tech startups. Thompson would reserve half that fund for energy and environmental businesses.

Thompson's also proposing a separate 10-million-dollar fund for renewable energy projects, and investment of some state pension money in those companies if they're in-state.

And she's calling for a 500-dollar-per-job tax credit for so-called green jobs -- the exact definition would have to be worked out.

Governor Daniels has focused on biofuels in his first term, presiding over the construction of 20 ethanol and biodiesel plants. That makes Indiana the fifth-largest producer of biofuels in the U.S. Thompson says that's important, but says the state hasn't done enough with wind and solar power.

Thompson says she'd require all new state buildings to meet maximum environmental efficiency standards, a step Daniels has already taken. She says she'd set green purchasing guidelines for the state, including limiting the state's automobile fleet to flex-fuel vehicles. And she pledges an energy audit of all state government facilities.

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