August 8, 2005

For the second time in a week, Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido welcomed a member of President Bush’s cabinet to the city.

The Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman visited Dearborn July 14. Guido greeted him at one of the city’s best-known tourist attractions, the Automotive Hall of Fame, located at 21400 Oakwood Boulevard.

Bodman came to Dearborn to join representatives of DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors – who make up the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) – to sign a renewal agreement for continued development of energy efficient technologies within the automotive industry.

USCAR works collaboratively with the Department of Energy (DOE) to advance initiatives like the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership, which promote efforts to further implement energy efficient transportation technology.

The cooperative research agreements between the automakers and the DOE will focus on development of lightweight materials and advanced battery technology for vehicles. The agreements, which include DOE funding and industry cost share, represent a total investment potential of $195 million over the next five years.

“Dearborn is one of the global nerve centers of the automotive industry. We’re pleased to be the site where this important renewal agreement is being signed, which represents an important step forward in America’s continuing drive to have a sensible, secure and efficient energy supply,” said Guido.

The visit to Dearborn was part of Bodman’s continuing “Energizing America for Energy Security.” The tour’s purpose is to promote the passage of comprehensive energy legislation by Congress, and underscore the need for expanded use of energy research and technology development, particularly relating to solar energy and energy-efficient vehicles.

Guido welcomed the Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson to Dearborn July 7. Jackson paid a visit to one of Dearborn’s senior citizen housing buildings, which receive HUD’s highest ratings in annual evaluations.