US wants to take clean energy lead: WH

It is need of the hour to work for creation of these industries in the United States, and create jobs in this country, White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, told reporters at a news conference.

"The broader principle here is that we need to build those industries in the United States, because they will be vital industries in the 21st century and if we don't build them here, they will be built in China or Europe or India or elsewhere, and jobs will be created in China or India or Europe or elsewhere.

"This President was not willing to cede these key 21st century industries to the Chinese or the Indians or the Europeans or others," he said in response to a question.

Carney said the investments made by the federal government in the economy has supported hundreds of thousands of jobs.

"Even more significantly, they have helped clean energy industries here in the United States expand and place roots into the American economy in a way that will continue to pay dividends economically for years to come," he said.