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Obama announces plan to sink $2 billion into solar energy projects
Facing sluggish job growth, President Barack Obama on Saturday
announced about $2 billion in new investments to help build clean
energy technology and create thousands of jobs.
In his weekly
address, Obama said that the Department of Energy is slated to award
nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments to two solar
companies: Abengoa Solar and Abound Solar Manufacturing.
The construction will create about 1,600 jobs in Arizona and more than 70 percent of the components and products used in construction will be manufactured in the United States “boosting jobs and communities in states up and down the supply chain,” Obama said. The plant will eventually generate enough energy to power 70,000 homes, Obama added.
Abound Solar Manufacturing will manufacture advanced solar panels at two new plants in Colorado and Indiana, creating more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs
The two projects are funded through the Recovery Act. Just on Friday, Obama announced 66 Recovery Act projects aimed at expanding broadband Internet access and public computing centers in underserved communities at a cost of $795 million. These projects are slated to create 5,000 construction and installation jobs in the near term.
The Republicans have strongly criticized the Obama administration and the Recovery Act for not creating enough jobs.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) used the GOP’s weekend address to fire off dire warnings of the repercussions of “public debt,” and criticized the Democrats and the White House efforts to use government funds to energize the economy.
“At a time when Americans are clipping coupons and pinching pennies, President Obama and the Democrats in Congress continue to spend money that they – we – do not have,” Chambliss said. “The national debt has risen by $2.4 trillion in the 500 days since President Obama took office. That’s an average of nearly $5 billion per day.”
Chambliss warned that national debt is also a national security issue, because the U.S. debt is held by other nations, and predominantly China.
“Just as with our energy and food supplies, America is vulnerable when we disproportionately rely on other nations,” Chambliss said. “At some point we have to say 'enough is enough.' We have to make tough decisions about spending beyond our means.”
Obama acknowledged in his address that despite the steps the administration is taking, it will take time to replace the millions of jobs lost during the recession.
“The truth is, steps like
these won’t replace all the jobs we’ve lost overnight. I know folks
are struggling,” Obama said. “I know this Fourth of July weekend finds
many Americans wishing things were a bit easier right now. I do too.”
Obama, however, attacked Senate Republicans for “using their power”
to hold “hostage” a bill that would have expanded unemployment
benefits. The Senate left for the July Fourth recess without voting on
that bill. The House passed the legislation.
Democrats on Friday intensified their criticism of Senate Republicans for holding up the extension of unemployment benefits.
Republicans
are “putting our economy at risk” by blocking a $33 billion bill
extending the benefits, according to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.),
chairwoman of the Joint Economic Committee, who spoke to The Hill after a
June report by the Labor Department showed the economy lost 125,000
jobs for the month.
Congress has been trying to reach a deal to extend unemployment
benefits for more than two months, but the Senate this week again
failed to reach an agreement.
Most Senate Republicans and
Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) voted against the legislation because
it would add to the nation’s record deficit. They insist the bill’s
cost should be offset with other spending cuts.
Ian Swanson contributed to this report
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