"I applaud the efforts of the Apollo Alliance to combine the insight, interests and passion of our nation's labor and environmental movements. The 'New Energy for America' report released today sets forth a bold vision of a future in which clean energy and advanced technology improve the quality of life for all Americans.

Like the Apollo Alliance, I believe that government must play an important role in encouraging technological innovation. Nowhere is this role more critical than in the field of advanced energy technology. Under President Bush, the United States has lost more than 2.5 million manufacturing jobs. During this same period, greenhouse gas emissions rose, oil imports increased, and a massive section of our electricity grid fell. This pattern of neglect must end.

Advanced energy technologies like fuel cells, efficient automobiles, clean coal technologies, and intelligent electricity transmission grids are essential to ensuring America's prosperity in the 21st century. I look forward to working with the Apollo Alliance members to create a strong and secure America in which our talented labor force is hard at work building a clean and safe future for our children."