While Michigan is facing one of its most challenging economic climates, Wayne County is poised to welcome a new industry for a new tomorrow. Biotech will create a new industry of opportunity to help move the region out of this slump and into new jobs, economic growth and stability.

Biotech will transform petroleum based products to non-petroleum based products, such as fuel, plane deicers, water bottles and automotive parts.

“The future of the U.S. and world economies must include energy
independence by replacing our petroleum-based economy with renewable sources of energy,” says Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.

Under the leadership of Executive Ficano, Wayne County has already
taken the first steps. More than 50 percent of the Wayne County passenger vehicle fleet is made up of flexible fuel vehicles capable of running on E85, a combination of ethanol and gasoline. And, within the next few months, the County’s entire diesel fleet will be converted to run on
bio-diesel.

In addition, Wayne County recently signed a letter of understanding with both Michigan State University (MSU) and Diversified Natural products (DNP) to support the establishment of a DNP bio-refinery and a MSU R&D facility in Wayne County.

This bio-refinery will be capable of producing ethanol, bio-diesel, and a chemical called succinic acid. This chemical is proven to serve as a renewable and bio-degradable substitute for petroleum in the production of plastics.

Naysayers claim that flexible fuel vehicles can never become mainstream vehicles. Take a look at the Brazilian market. Brazil saw its auto industry jump from 5 percent of the market being flexible fuel vehicles to 75 percent market share within two years. It has been done and it can be done here in the U.S.