The Pres-O-dent gave a speech today at MIT about “American leadership in clean energy”. Obama expressed a lot of interest in supporting clean energy through funding and policy, and consistently hammered down the point that he wants renewables and energy to be the fundamental driver of the American economy. Absurdly exciting stuff for a renewables geek like me. Anyway, check out the MIT press release below.

There’s a video rebroadcast of the whole thing in case you missed it.

Anticipating the Friday arrival of President Barack Obama at MIT, members of the MIT community noted both the significance of the visit and the gravity of its purpose.

Hundreds of visitors including Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick were expected to be present at noon in Kresge Auditorium for President Obama’s remarks on “American leadership in clean energy.” The talk comes as Congress gears up for hearings on clean energy legislation and as negotiators from around the world prepare for December’s U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen.

Prior to speaking in Kresge, the president was due to tour a research lab on campus.

Among those planning to watch the president in Kresge was Forgan McIntosh, co-president of the MIT Energy Club and an MIT Sloan School of Management MBA student. McIntosh said he was frustrated that the battle over health care reform had crowded out the public debate over energy policy, and said he was looking to Obama’s speech to jump-start progress on redefining the government’s role in the energy sector and Washington’s leadership position in the global race for clean energy competitiveness.

“I hope Obama’s speech signals a recommitment by the White House to address energy issues on a first-priority basis,” he said.

Via MITnews