(MPRN-Mackinac Island) Michigan’s political leaders are gearing up to defend federal military installations from future base closure efforts.
They’re preparing for the certainty of a restructuring of military forces. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow says Michigan’s manufacturing and technology sectors give the state a strong case. She says the military is looking for a lot of the same things that consumers want.
“As the country is looking at autonomous vehicles, new vehicle-to- vehicle technology, alternative fuels like hydrogen fuel cells as well as advanced batteries, Michigan is the place where all of that is happening.”
Michigan has seven military facilities, including the Air National Guard Base in Battle Creek, but has lost bases in earlier closings. A recent report says military installations support 105 thousand civilian jobs and $9 billion in economic activity.
