Originally published on April 27, 2010/Fort Madison, Iowa/PRNewswire-FirstCall
Siemens hosted the President of the U.S., Barack Obama, April 27 for a tour and visit to its recently expanded 600,000 sq. ft. wind turbine blade facility at Fort Madison, Iowa.
Obama toured the facility and then addressed an audience of 300 employees, visitors and local representatives highlighting the Fort Madison plant as a successful example of how clean technology can help revive a local economy.
Craig Schattner, Alliance to Save Energy
President Obama was careful not to undermine the Home Star program by referring to its adopted media name, ‘Cash for Caulkers.’ That’s because this consumer rebate program, in comparison with its automotive counterpart, isn’t simply meant to stimulate the economy while promoting energy efficiency; this one’s about creating jobs, too.
From manufacturers on down to builders, the Home Star program will infuse jobs into a lackluster building industry that has seen better days. The eye-catching figure: 25 percent unemployment among construction jobs. But here’s the good news:
In Georgia alone, where the press conference was held, Obama cited 300 transportation projects currently in the works. And to create the workforce that can do it, he’s looking to put millions more in technical colleges like the one he toured today in Savannah.