King Carl XVI Gustaf presents Michigan Governor Granholm with the Order of the Polar Star. Photo: Henrik Garlöv
(Updated, 10/22) Michigan’s Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, a Swedish-American, received one of Sweden’s most prestigious awards in recognition for her efforts to promote clean tech and economic relations between Sweden and Michigan. The award – the Insignia of First Commander, Order of the Polar Star – was presented to the Governor by the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on October 21st.
After having received the award, she told the Associated Press that it is “about the effort Michigan is making in renewable energy, learning a great deal from Sweden but trying to create jobs in this new sector for us.”
Attentind the ceremony was the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Matthew Barzun, the Governor’s parents Victor and Shirley Granholm, Sweden’s Consul General for Michigan Lennart Johansson, and Greg Main, President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Sweden's Royal Palace. Photo: Hans Sandberg
“My strategy as governor has been to diversify our economy and move into new sectors, particularly sectors that we can be very successful in such as manufacturing the products that will lead our nation, and our world, to reduction of reliance on fossil fuels,” she continued.
Later the same day Governor Granholm announced at a reception at the American Embassy in Stockholm that Swedish Biogas International AB is exploring the development of a second facility in Michigan to produce renewable energy from municipal and agricultural waste. ”Companies like Swedish Biogas International are transforming Michigan into the clean energy capital of North America,” she said, adding that “this is all part of our aggressive strategy to diversify the Michigan economy and expand our state’s clean energy capabilities to create jobs and in the process reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”
Jennifer Granholm and Ambassador Matthew Barzun. Photo: Henrik Garlöv
“Governor Granholm and the state of Michigan are demonstrating to the world the role global partnerships can play in creating jobs back home,” the U.S. Ambassador Matthew Barzun told the gathering at the Embassy. “Our goal through the Swedish American Green Alliance initiative is to help Michigan and others in the United States foster those partnerships that will ultimately grow jobs to the benefit of both nations’ economies.”
The Order of the Polar Star was created in 1748 by King Fredrik I, and is since 1974 only awarded to foreign citizens or stateless persons for services to Sweden.
The Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf visited Michigan in September 2008 to co-host a conference on climate change in Dearborn, MI, and presided at the groundbreaking of the state’s opening of the first Center of Energy Excellence, a clean energy collaboration between Swedish Biogas International, Kettering University and the city of Flint.
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