historic piece of legislation that will open the door to a

clean energy economy and a better future for America.

For more than three decades, we've talked about our

dependence on foreign oil.

And for more than three decades, we have seen that dependence grow.

We've seen our reliance on fossil fuels jeopardize our

national security.

We've seen it pollute the air we breathe and endanger our planet.

And most of all, we've seen other countries realize a

critical truth: the nation that leads in the creation of a clean

energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st

century global economy.

Now is the time for the United States of America to realize this, too.

Now's the time for us to lead.

The energy bill that passed the House will finally create a set

of incentives that will spark a clean energy transformation in

our economy.

It will spur the development of low carbon sources of energy --

everything from wind, solar, and geothermal power to safer

nuclear energy and cleaner coal.

It will spur new energy savings, like the efficient windows and

other materials that reduce heating costs in the winter and

cooling costs in the summer.

And most importantly, it will make possible the creation of

millions of new jobs.

Make no mistake: this is a jobs bill.

We're already seeing why this is true in the clean energy

investments we're making through the Recovery Act.

In California, 3,000 people will be employed to build a new solar

plant that in turn will create 1,000 permanent jobs.

In Michigan, investment in wind turbines and wind technology is

expected to create over 2,600 jobs.

In Florida, three new solar projects are expected to employ

1,400 people.

The list goes on and on, but the point is this: this legislation

will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy.

That will lead to the creation of new businesses and entire new industries.

And that will lead to American jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced.

I've often talked about the need to build a new foundation for

economic growth so that we don't return to the endless cycle of

bubble and bust that led us to this recession.

Clean energy and the jobs it creates will be absolutely

critical to this new foundation.

This legislation has also been carefully written to address the

concerns that many have expressed in the past.

Instead of increasing the deficit,

it's paid for by the polluters who currently emit dangerous

carbon emissions.

It provides assistance to businesses and families as they

make the gradual transition to clean energy technologies.

It gives rural communities and farmers the opportunity to

participate in climate solutions and generate new income.

And above all, it will protect consumers from the costs of this

transition, so that in a decade, the price to the average

American will be just about a postage stamp a day.

Because this legislation is so balanced and sensible,

it's already attracted a remarkable coalition of consumer

and environmental groups; labor and business leaders;

Democrats and Republicans.

And I want to thank every Member of Congress who put politics

aside to support this bill on Friday.

Now my call to every Senator, as well as to every American,

is this: We cannot be afraid of the future.

And we must not be prisoners of the past.

Don't believe the misinformation out there that suggests that

there's somehow a contradiction between investing in clean

energy and economic growth.

It's just not true.

We've been talking about energy for decades.

But there's no longer a disagreement over whether our

dependence on foreign oil is endangering our security.

It is.

There's no longer a debate about whether carbon pollution is

placing our planet in jeopardy.

It's happening.

And there's no longer a question about whether the jobs and

industries of the 21st century will be centered around clean,

renewable energy.

The question is, which country will create these jobs and these industries?

I want that answer to be the United States of America.

And I believe that the American people and the men and women

they sent to Congress share that view.

So I want to congratulate the House for passing this bill,

and I want to urge the Senate to take this opportunity to come

together and meet our obligations --

to our constituents, to our children, to God's creation,

and to future generations.

Thanks for listening.