It has been reported that President Barack Obama was in Northern California Wednesday to tour a solar panel manufacturing plant and tout alternative energy as a U. S. economic engine.

They are "leading the way toward a brighter and more prosperous future" following the "economic storms" of the past few years, the president, with Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on hand, told workers at the new Solyndra Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif., which is to employ 1,000 workers.

Obama said, "We all know the price we pay as a country as a result of how we produce and use, and, yes, waste energy today. We're not going to be able to sustain this kind of fossil fuel use. This planet can't sustain it.

He further said, "Around the world, from China to Germany, our competitors are waging a historic effort to lead in developing new energy technologies. Nobody is playing for second place. These countries recognize that the nation that leads the clean energy economy is likely to lead the global economy. And if we fail to recognize that same imperative, we risk falling behind."

It was also noted by Obama that 15 years ago the United States produced 40 percent of the world's solar panels but by 2008, the U. S. share had fallen to just over 5 percent.

The president said, "I don't know about you, but I'm not prepared to cede American leadership in this industry, because I'm not prepared to cede America's leadership in the global economy. So that's why we've placed a big emphasis on clean energy. It's the right thing to do for our environment, it's the right thing to do for our national security, but it's also the right thing to do for our economy." (With Inputs from Agencies)