DETROIT, June 4, 2009 /PRNewswire/ – Representatives from hundreds of Michigan companies participated in a day-long regional manufacturing outreach workshop at the MGM Grand. The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), with support from DTE Energy and other local co-sponsors, conducted the workshop that is designed to help companies learn how to supply products and services to the nuclear industry. Top industry leaders in reactor design, engineering, construction and procurement lead interactive briefings throughout the day and met with local manufacturers interested in becoming suppliers.
Michigan Speaker of the House Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, kicked off the workshop with opening remarks. “Michigan has a vast pool of engineering talent and manufacturing expertise that has served the auto industry very well for a long time,” he said. “But with the domestic auto companies scaling down, those skills, experience and capabilities can be refocused on supplying components and services to the nuclear industry. With a shortage of domestic companies serving the nuclear industry, this presents an opportunity for us to develop a more diversified and stable Michigan economy.”
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., supported the workshop and said it offers local companies a way to expand and diversify their business. “Many businesses in the 13th Congressional District and the state of Michigan have the talent and creativity to play a critical role in providing services, systems, and supplies to the nuclear industry,” she said. “I applaud the Nuclear Energy Institute, DTE Energy, and the other local co-sponsors for their efforts to help Michigan companies diversify their operations.”
DTE Energy President and COO Gerry Anderson told the participants that while the state of the economy has created some uncertainty about when U.S. companies will begin building new nuclear plants, the worldwide market is strong. “As of February, 30 countries worldwide operate 436 nuclear reactors for electricity generation, and 45 new nuclear plants are under construction in 14 countries. That means the next several decades should be a period of great opportunity for nuclear suppliers.”
Participants had the opportunity to communicate directly with procurement personnel from some of the leading firms in the nuclear industry, including AREVA, Babcock & Wilcox, Black and Veatch, Bechtel, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Sargent & Lundy, Westinghouse and others.
NEI provides more information on nuclear industry opportunities for manufacturers on its website at: http://nei.org/careersandeducation/manufacturing_opportunities.
In addition to DTE Energy, local co-sponsors of this workshop included the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Minority Business Development Council, American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Asian-Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, CASEnergy-Michigan, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Michigan Business and Professional Organization, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth; American Nuclear Society, Michigan Chapter; Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation, Monroe Economic Development Corporation, Wayne County Department of Environment, Wayne County Economic Development Growth Engine, Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, Engineering Society of Detroit and the Michigan Manufacturers Association. National co-sponsors include the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the U.S. Department of Energy.
DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, coal and gas midstream, unconventional gas production and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com.
NEI is the nuclear energy industry’s policy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to foster the beneficial uses of nuclear technology in its myriad forms. Additional information about NEI and nuclear energy is available at www.nei.org.
Source: DTE Energy
CONTACT: John Austerberry, +1-313-235-8859, or Lorie Kessler,
+1-313-235-8807, both of DTE Energy
Web Site: http://www.dteenergy.com/
