President Barack Obama vowed to fight for economic recovery on all fronts today and said a clean energy revolution plays a large role in righting the U.S. economy.
Speaking at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, the president detailed more spending for renewable energy, which he said is central to righting the U.S economy.
"We are going to make sure that not only we put people back to work but that we're laying the foundation for a better economy," Obama said.
The president spoke near the largest solar electric plant of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, a facility he called a "shining example" of harnessing clean energy. He toured the base's large field of sub-powered cells earlier in the day.
"In this case, what happens in Vegas should not stay in Vegas," Obama said.
In the past four months, Obama said his administration's stimulus package has "saved or created nearly 150,000 jobs," including "jobs building solar panels and wind turbines -- making homes and buildings more energy-efficient."
Obama said more than $467 million in stimulus money will be used "to expand and accelerate the development, deployment and use of geothermal and solar energy throughout the United States."
Obama sandwiched the midday event between two political fundraisers: one on Tuesday night in Las Vegas for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and one set for Wednesday night in Los Angeles for the Democratic National Committee.
The base's $100 million public-private solar power system covers 140 acres and generates more than 14 megawatts of electricity.
