Texas Governor Perry: Education and Energy are Important Parts of Increasing Texas’ Global Competitiveness

Jan. 30, 2008 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry today spoke to the Governor’s Competitiveness Council, encouraging members to focus on increasing rigor and relevance in Texas classrooms, and bolstering research and development in alternative energy sources.

"The best way to drive prosperity in Texas is to ensure that our workers can compete for all jobs and to make sure that our industries can compete in the global economy," said Gov. Perry. "The State of Texas needs to do more than just think about how to make energy cheaper or roads wider, we need to keep our eyes trained on making our state a better place to live. Because, after all, a better quality of life is our aim."

Last month, labor reports showed Texas employers added 204,400 jobs during the past year. That represents an annual growth rate of 2 percent compared with a national growth rate of 1.1 percent. The governor stressed that to continue an upward growth rate, Texas must become even more competitive.

He encouraged the council to study the recommendations made by the Commission for a College Ready Texas in 2007, which showed many Texas high school students were not fully prepared for college. Today, a college degree is a leading indicator of future professional success, and a qualified, well-educated workforce is the foundation of bolstering economic competitiveness. Thus, the governor charged the council to focus on better aligning school curricula and workplace demands.

The governor also called for increased study in alternative energy sources. Texas has ranked number one in the nation for wind power generation for three consecutive years. The state is also first in biofuels and second in solar power. However, the state needs more diversity in its energy portfolio in order to keep up with rapid population growth, and to lessen dependence on foreign fuel sources.

"Education and energy are two essential parts of the challenges that lay before us. But they can be transformed by applying best practices from businesses, breaking out of traditional approaches and simply asking ‘what if,’" said Gov. Perry.

In December 2007, Gov. Perry created the Competitiveness Council to identify barriers to global competitiveness and make recommendations for how Texas can improve its economic footing for sustained success. Emphasizing state government’s interest in keeping the Texas economy competitive, he urged council members to apply the sound, proven business principles of agility, innovation and healthy competition to state government.

The council consists of 29 industry leaders, public and higher education officials, and representatives of key state regulatory agencies. The council is concentrating its work on the six key industry sectors where most of the job growth is projected to occur in the coming decades. It will present recommendations to the governor in August 2008.

Source: Texas Governor

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