Obama hands $2 billion for solar plant, creating new jobs
July 4, 2010 by Fatima Paracha
Filed under US
The US government is awarding nearly $2 billion for new solar plants that US President Barack Obama says will create thousands of jobs and increase the use of renewable energy sources.
The announcement was made by Obama during his weekly radio and online address on Saturday. He said the money is part of his plan to bring new industries to the US.
“We’re going to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America,” Obama said.
Two companies the money from the $862 billion are Abengoa Solar, which will build one of the world’s largest solar plants in Arizona, creating 1,600 construction jobs; and Abound Solar Manufacturing, which is building plants in Colorado and Indiana. These projects will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, the Obama administration said.
Obama said that while it may take years to bring back all the jobs lost during the recession, the economy is moving in a positive direction. He said that to bring the nation’s economy back from the brink of depression, it was necessary to add to the country’s debt in the short term.
