Obama: Economy's future linked to energy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- To create clean energy jobs requires more production, efficiency and incentives, U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday during his State of the Union.

"That means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country," Obama told the joint session of Congress. "It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development," as well as investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies.

"And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America," Obama said to applause.

Expressing gratitude to the House for passing an energy bill last year, Obama said he was "eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate."

Even if lawmakers doubt scientific evidence of climate change, incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing for the nation's future, Obama said.

"(The) nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy," Obama said. "And America must be that nation."