Obama touts U.S. battery potential in calling ‘clean’ energy an economic boost

President Obama used a Monday speech at a Wisconsin battery technology company to tout federal support for “clean” energy as a vital economic driver, but did not repeat his call for sweeping energy legislation that has collapsed in Congress.

Obama spoke at ZBB Energy Corp. after touring the company, which manufactures high-tech energy storage systems — a technology seen as vital to boosting consumption of renewable power sources and deployment of electric vehicles.

“Here at ZBB, you’re building batteries to store electricity from solar cells and wind turbines. And you’ve been able to export batteries around the globe, and that is helping lead in this new industry,” Obama said.

“For years, we’ve heard about manufacturing jobs disappearing overseas. Companies like this one are showing us how manufacturing jobs can come back right here in the United States of America, right back here to Wisconsin,” he added.

The company is receiving a $1.3 million loan from the economic stimulus bill to help fund a $4.5 million expansion, a project that will eventually lead to the hiring of 80 more workers, the White House said.

The stimulus bill also created a new tax credit — which the administration is calling on Congress to expand — for manufacturing “clean” energy components in the U.S., such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Obama did not repeat his call for a broad climate change and energy bill, but noted private-sector job growth and took a political shot at “some folks in Washington” who argue against policies that Obama said create jobs.

“These are the same folks in Washington who made the political calculation that it was better to stand on the sidelines than work as a team to help the American worker. They said no to small-business tax cuts, no to rebuilding infrastructure, no to clean energy projects. They even voted against getting rid of tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas,” he said.

He later added: “See, when folks lift up the hoods on the cars of the future, I want them to see engines stamped ‘Made in America.’ When new batteries to store solar power come off assembly lines, I want to see printed on the side, 'Made in America.’ And when new technologies are developed with the potential to unleash new businesses — and even whole new industries — I want those products to be made in America.”