Earlier today (Jan. 26), Secretary Steven Chu traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to discuss President Obama’s blueprint for an American economy built to last – a blueprint which includes support for energy innovation and advanced manufacturing.

He was joined by U.S. Congressman Martin Heinrich on a tour of Sandia National Laboratories’ National Solar Thermal Test Facility, which provides researchers and companies with state-of-the-art tools, so they can stay at the forefront of solar technologies. In the afternoon, Secretary Chu also hosted a State of the Union Town Hall with young Americans at the University of New Mexico, where he announced that the University has been selected to compete in the 2013 Solar Decathlon.

Clean energy holds great economic promise for the state of New Mexico. The state ranks 3rd in the U.S. in total solar potential, and institutions like Sandia are supporting solar research that could help put America on top in the fierce global competition to lead in a clean energy sector.

During his tour of Sandia National Laboratories, Secretary Chu emphasized the importance of investing in innovation and building clean energy technologies here in America.

As the Secretary has noted in the past, although the United States invented solar cells, wind turbines, and lithium ion batteries, we are no longer the leading manufacturer of these technologies. We can regain the lead in the clean energy race and create the jobs of the future in America, but as the Secretary says our motto must be “Invented in America, Made in America, and Sold Worldwide."