"Thank you for taking the time to write and I am honored you would share your idea Project New America with me. This is an extraordinary moment in our nation's history and it will take the passion and ideas of citizens like you to help solve the issues before us"...Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Office of the Vice President, Washington, D.C.

"McKinley Conway has issued a courageous call to action in his Project New America by setting forth a plan that can move our country toward both energy independence and a reinvigorated economy at the same time. As economic developers look for ways to create and promote sustainable communities, Conway's plan provides a roadmap for achieving economic stability and earth-friendly energy solutions. In short, it is a plan that merits close attention by our national leaders, those seeking climate-enhancing projects, and economic developers with an eye on the next 100 years. This is consistent with many of the findings of IEDC's ‘Climate Prosperity Project,’ the results of which will be released in the next couple of months."  …Jeffrey Finkle, President, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Washington, D.C.

"America needs energy independence and I have fully supported looking at all alternatives to get us there. But, the time has come to act and not continue politics as usual. That is why I endorse Mr. Conway’s proposal. It has a clear cut schedule of stages to get us there. Continuing to politicize and throwing hard-earned taxpayer money at poorly conceived and managed projects is irresponsible. If we follow Mr. Conway’s plan we will see much needed results, quickly."…Pete Garra, Director, Real Estate, Legal Services, The Linde Group

"Project New America as proposed by McKinley Conway provides an excellent framework to help America reestablish its rightful position of preeminent global leadership through sound public policy, capital investment and job creation designed to achieve energy independence by 2020 through a concentrated focus on the fundamental concepts of alternative sources of energy generation and establishing more prudent and wise habits relating to energy consumption. It’s an extremely thoughtful and well-conceived work that embodies our nation’s history of determination." …Robin Ronne, Managing Director, CEO Council, The Broward Alliance, Fort Lauderdale, FL

"Redding is fortunate to have its own Municipal Electric Utility and, as such, has the ability to be creative by partnering on projects or at the least provide significant incentives. Because of Redding’s central location on Interstate 5, alternative energy manufacturing companies can not only take advantage of REU’s resources, but also excellent access to western markets."...Jim Zauher, Economic Development Director, City of Redding, CA

"The economic future of our country is dependent on alternative, sustainable energy sources that safeguard our environment and break our dependency on carbon based fuels." …Thomas J. Eagar, Chief Executive Officer, North Carolina State Ports Authority

"When I opened the envelope and saw Project New America, I felt as if someone had handed me a draft of the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence to review… I have only read it once … but I am taken with the insight it offers and the excitement it contains... Thank you on behalf of all of us working in economic development on a local level. … In a community like Seneca Falls, NY, which once stood at the forefront of industrial and social development and now seeks better times for itself and its neighbors, we know a good opportunity when we see it and we won’t let this one go by."…Bob Buccieri, Director, Seneca Falls Development Corp., NY

"I have been reading your newest "Project New America" and once again I’m amazed and grateful to hear about a range of innovations that nobody else has pointed out."…Hank Ezell, Retired journalist, Atlanta, GA

"Thank you so much for sending me a copy of Project New America". …Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska

"Iowa is the third largest producer of wind energy in the nation. …We’ve seen firsthand the opportunities alternative energy offers to bolster economies and will continue to support expansions of this growing industry."… Marlena Bandurski, Director of Research, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Des Moines, IA

"Successful economic development often means hitching your community’s train to the ‘right’ economic locomotive. McKinley Conway provides a helpful guidepost for America’s economic developers looking to do just that." …Christopher Chung, CEO, Missouri Partnership, St. Louis, MO

"Thank you for … Project New America …looks very intriguing." …Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House

"This is an area in which we are very interested." ...Anna Grant Jones, Development Authority of Elbert County, GA

"This looks like an impressive piece of work. …With over 550 biotechnology companies, North Carolina is third in the nation for biotechnology. Our Piedmont Triad area is a cluster for nanotechnology research and companies. The Biofuels Center of N.C. is dedicated to ensuring that by 2017, 10% of liquid fuels sold in North Carolina will come from biofuels locally grown and produced."… Kendyle Woodard, Marketing Communications Director, North Carolina Biotechnology Center

"There is a refreshing air pro-active movements taking place in America that appears to re-ignite the inner strength that we have as Americans when it comes to surviving and to being innovative. Change is more than a slogan, it’s a prayer.  God grew us to be strong, let’s not let Him down. ...Please send me a hard copy of "Project New America." Ted C. Ensminger II, Executive Director, Madison County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Florida

"Project New America is a timely resource that profiles emerging energy sectors and provides a ready reference to several global players in this arena." …Brent Sheffler, CEcD, Leader, Advanced Manufacturing, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Richmond, VA

"The next economic development paradigm for communities is the manufacture of energy. In order for this nation to have long-term, quality economic growth, our country needs to have an abundant supply of inexpensive energy. Project New America helps lead us toward that goal." William H. Fruth, President, POLICOM Corporation, Palm City, FL

"In true visionary form, Mac Conway has pierced the heart of the U.S. economic stalemate and proposed simple yet strategic steps to accelerate our economy out of this quagmire. His forceful and yet understandable plan to lead us toward the twin goals of energy independence and ten million new jobs by the year 2020 is clearly achievable, but requires bold and consistent action. Let’s all take the responsibility to make sure that our leaders will read and act accordingly." …Wayne L. Sterling, President and CEO, Greater Paducah EDC, Paducah, KY

"What amazed me was the amount of relevant economic development data contained in the 127 pages. Congratulations to McKinley Conway for adding yet another publication all ED and ID practitioners should have in their library! Herein are found examples of successful projects, worldwide. In most cases, McKinley has been there (for his pictures confirm they exist!).The amazing aspect easily glossed over are potentials the development specialists can review (and actually travel and see); many of which could be duplicated in another community. Energy dependence and THE NEW ECONOMY may have driven McKinley to ingather this into an easily read and understood publication. It also is a huge reservoir of prospects including suppliers and contact persons.

In my nearly 50 years of site location and development practice, experience reveals accelerating the awareness of community leaders to future potentials is mandatory. Here is a comfortable to read publication filled with evidence of existing development projects wherein the reader can quickly ascertain future potentials worthy of investigation and study. The vast majority fit almost everywhere. In the present economic pinch, the broad examination of successes of others and the foundation-data is there. Fewer fact gathering travel days will net more employing this compendium." …Jim Soudriette CMC FIMC, General Partner, The Galaxy Organization, Business and Management Consultants, Equity Asset Managers, Phoenix, Arizona

"Conway’s comprehensive list of alternative energy companies and opportunities is an excellent resource for ambitious action toward a sustainable future we can believe in." … Judy Knight, technology consultant and writer. Norcross, GA

"I pretty much agree with the premise put forth. I have some radical views on this energy stuff. Primary among those views is that when we ask the feds to build this new "smart" electric distribution interstate system, we buy out those 100’s of private distribution companies, and nationalize power distribution. Without federal preemption, I doubt whether the things necessary to do to build the electric distribution system we need will happen.

Secondly, we have the beginnings of an incredible industry on our doorstep – nanophotovoltaics. While the nano cells are not as efficient as the silicone based systems we are familiar with, the simple volume available in a given area sort of solve that problem. These cells can be impregnated in roofing shingles, building siding systems, even paint. Given the roof coverage we have today, government, institutional, commercial/industrial and even residential, just imagine the power generation potential, with basically no impact on the Earth’s albedo. Not only would tremendous amounts of power be generated, but the amount of individual units would lend an incredible stability to the system. It would only really work with a national "smart" electric grid, but the technology is here today.

What our agency does is finance new and existing business. Essentially, my role here is as an underwriter. Having said that, I work particularly hard to get alternative energy businesses started, or helped, and talk up the same sort of thing you folks are proposing whenever I get the chance. We are fortunate in NYS to have a governor who’s really "into it" as well. As an example, one of our most recent microenterprise loans was to a company that does hi tech residential wind turbines: http://www.greeningreene.com.

We’re not really doing anything different here in terms of new incentives for alternative energy companies. That’s a good idea, and I’ll give it some thought.

While not formally in my ‘area,’ we are fortunate to be in the capital district of NY, where there are significant public/private partnerships in place for alternative energy development between the state and the State University, as well as RPI.  Also, GE has their big newly expanded wind turbine business in Schenectady.

Thank you for sharing your plan with me. It looks good, and is exactly the kind of thing that needs to be done." …Frank Alguire, Economic Developer, Greene County Economic Development, Tourism, & Planning, Catskill, New York

"Conway’s book is a timely call to action for our nation and an excellent resource for anyone interested in emerging alternative energy companies."  …Wes Stucky, President, Ardmore Development Authority, Ardmore, Oklahoma

"The best thing about the Conway plan is that we would set up the new energy industry development project separate from the Federal bureaucracy and have it run by a team of expert engineers, architects and contractors working in collaboration with established area development groups. It would be smart for Obama to make this a key element in his big recovery program because it would be a sure success for him to leave behind." .…(name withheld on request).

"Can you send me two more copies of the Project New America book? That looks like an awesome book. ….McKinney is positioned to do some very creative niche green businesses – we already have such a synergy here & money – but we don’t have a university for R&D in our city. How can I engage the minds of those with inside knowledge into helping us explore what our potential is? I don’t know if you even know…but I need to build my knowledge base and cut through all of the peripheral junk out there. I want to visit with people in the know. And learn about monies out there. We just hired a green coordinator who is so incredible – has her environmental law degree – and tons of experience. She and I are going to put our heads together, too."  …Sherie Ellington, Economic Developer, McKinney, Texas

"Mac Conway understands how important energy independence is to our
nation's future. His plan recognizes what this will mean to our economy, environment, and our vital foreign policy objectives." …Chris McGowan, Executive Vice President, Siouxland Initiative, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, Sioux City, Iowa

"Energy drives our economy. And in both energy and economic development, we sorely need some new answers for the 21st century. Mac Conway's new book shows us how one of those answers may be 'blowing in the wind'."  …SJohn L. Gann Jr., President, Gann Associates, Roselle, IL (noted author and expert on economic development marketing)