President Obama discusses clean energy

President Obama gave a major economic speech today in which he said that the only way to achieve the full economic potential of new clean energy opportunities is to reduce the carbon pollution that causes global warming.

"Now, the third pillar of this new foundation is to harness the renewable energy that can create millions of new jobs and new industries. We all know that the country that harnesses this new energy source will lead the 21st century. Yet we’ve allowed other countries to outpace us on this race to the future.

"I don’t know about you, but I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders. I think it’s time for America to lead again.

"So the investments we made in the Recovery Act will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. And we are putting Americans to work, making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions on our energy bills and grow our economy at the same time.

"Now, the only way, though, that we can truly spark the transformation that’s needed is through a gradual, market-based cap on carbon pollution so that clean energy is a profitable kind of energy."