Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm spoke Wednesday at Detroit's Cobo Hall for the American Wind Energy Association conference.
The three-day conference, which ends Thursday, is focusing on small and community applications for wind power.
Granholm welcomed the conference to Detroit and pointed out that Michigan is home to automotive technical and research facilities that can transfer their know-how to wind energy projects.
"Engines, drive trains, gear boxes, materials, research and development, carbon fiber, lightweight, this is our stuff," Granholm said. "We've just been doing it in the auto industry and many are now eager to be able to do that in the wind energy industry as well."