President Obama visited Newton, Iowa-based Trinity Structural Towers, the former Maytag appliance factory that now produces towers for wind energy production and employs dozens of former Maytag employees.
The president unveiled a program to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that will produce electricity from wind, wave and ocean currents. These regulations will enable the U.S to have access to the ocean's vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner, according to Obama.
The president also said he plans to pursue comprehensive legislation to move toward energy independence and prevent the worst consequences of climate change, while creating the incentives to make clean energy the most profitable kind of energy in America.
In addition, Obama encouraged Congress to pass comprehensive legislation that advances energy and climate security, promotes economic recovery efforts, accelerates job creation, and drives clean energy manufacturing by:
– driving the development of new, green manufacturing opportunities in the rebuilding, retrofitting and modernizing of our nation's factories;
– ensuring a level playing field for domestic manufacturing and securing significant actions to combat climate change by our trading partners;
– investing $150 billion over 10 years in energy research and development to transition to a clean energy economy; and
– developing an economy-wide emissions reduction program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and secure the greatest benefits at the lowest cost for families and businesses.
SOURCE: Office of the White House Press Secretary
