Obama Promotes Green Jobs In Falls Township

President Barack Obama visited a wind turbine production plant in Falls Township on Wednesday.

According to the PhillyBurbs.com, Obama held a town hall with workers of the Gamesa turbine production facility.

Obama's itinerary included a discussion on clean energy and energy diversification.

Clean energy was an intrical part of the president's election campaign in 2007 and in recent months, the Obama Administration has ramped up efforts to bring the subject to the forefront.

In March, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $12 million green energy challenge, I6, which will award six teams country-wide with a monetary prize for successful application of “ground-breaking ideas that enable technology commercialization, new venture formation, job creation, and economic growth.”

Pennsylvania has dabbled heavily in green energy in recent years. In 2008, former Gov. Ed Rendell signed a $650 million energy bill which provided funds for the construction of wind farms aswell as giving tax incentives for small businesses and homeowners who became more energy efficient.

The state currently operates six wind farms, including Waymart Wind Energy Center, which, according to the Pennsylvania Wind Working Group, is the largest wind farm east of the Missisippi River.

One of those plants, the Bear Creek facility in Luzerne County, uses 12 Gamesa-made turbines to operate.

According to the PhillyBurbs.com, the Falls Gamesa plant that produces those turbines currently employs 300 workers.