What is a Green Machine?

One might question the idea of a road trip through the northern Midwest region in the middle of January when there’s nothing but snow flurries and blustering winds all around.  But we’re Michiganders, with adventurous spirits, and here we are, driving through the Midwest in order to officially kick off our Green Machines Road Trip tomorrow in St. Paul, Minnesota.  It may be a little crazy, but we have an important mission and there’s no time to waste waiting for the weather to warm up.  And, we’re driving a Green Machine, so we can rest a little easier about the amount of gas we’re using.

So what is a Green Machine anyway?

The Saturn Vue “Green Line” is a great example of a Green Machine – it’s made in the US by UAW members, it uses advanced technologies like a nickel-metal hydride battery and regenerative breaking, it has one of the highest fuel-economies of any SUV on the road, and its battery was developed by a Michigan-based alternative energy company and built by union members in Ohio. 

That’s why we chose to drive a Vue “Green Line” on our Road Trip.  We’re taking this vehicle across the Midwest, on a mission to talk to real people about real issues that affect their lives: we’re talking to them about saving oil and saving jobs.

In many cases, Green Machines like the Vue “Green Line” have not only helped to save gas, but have also created jobs, and economic activities in the communities where they’re built.  For example, a new assembly plant in Delta Township, MI that builds crossover vehicles with advanced engines and transmissions created 1,800 direct jobs and 18,000 indirect jobs when it opened last year.  That’s a big impact for small township like Delta.

It’s not just in Delta Township, all around the Midwest Green Machines are saving jobs: advanced transmissions in Livonia MI saved hundreds of jobs, new engines in Dundee, MI created over 500 jobs, fuel-efficient vehicles in Belvidere, IL saved over 1,000 new jobs. 

These types of investments are definitely happening, but they could be happening more.  Though they’re building some new efficient vehicles, domestic auto companies are still slashing thousands of US jobs every year.  New policies could encourage them to build more fuel-efficient vehicles, re-invest in local communities, and reduce or reverse the job loss trend.

The UAW is one of the biggest supporters of these new policies.  Last year, the UAW launched its “Marshall Plan” for the auto industry, which calls for major new investments in production of advanced fuel-efficient technologies, like hybrids and clean diesels.

We’re taking the idea of the “Marshall Plan” on the road, pointing out the connection between jobs and oils saving, highlighting the numerous Green Machines on the market today, getting people talking about new policies and taking action to drive change.

We’ve got a lot of good stops on the way – we’ll be stopping to talk to UAW leaders, workers, farmers, drivers, ethanol producers, policy makers and many others in the Midwest.  By the time we’re done, people from Minneapolis to Detroit will know all about Green Machines and why they’re so important for our economy.

Comments

[jenn!]

Kudos Green Machines Tour, for braving the blustery Midwest winter to try to get people talking about these issues.

I see more and more people waking up and taking notice of 'green' technology and sustainability. Not only will Green Machines be good for our workers, economy and environment, it will enable our country to be less dependent on foreign oil. This tour has political importance also.

cheers,
jenn

[Michael Alison]

How do we get Iowa farmers to grow switch grass instead of corn? Is there a "green" chainsaw?
What kind of car are you driving on the tour?

[Deron]

Hey, this is great! Good to see you folks hitting the road with a message that we have the technology to get us to a more secure, cleaner America w/ good jobs to boot. Kudos to you!