MI agriculture programs to focus on clean energy

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension service plan to focus more on promoting the state's alternative energy efforts.

In an agreement announced Thursday by Michigan State University and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the programs will be aimed less at rural communities and more at assisting all communities in their efforts to do more in the clean energy economy.

Some had feared Granholm would veto funding for the programs as she gets ready to sign the remaining budget bills. The programs are popular with voters in largely Republican, rural areas of the state, and funding already had been cut in half to deal with the budget deficit.

The Democratic governor said Thursday she planned to leave the remaining money for the programs in the budget.