Obama touts clean energy, jobs plan in Las Vegas trip

LAS VEGAS - Clean energy was Ill. Sen. Barack Obama's topic today on his first trip to Nevada since clinching the Democratic nomination.  Speaking at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Obama highlighted his plan to expand federal funding for renewable energy and accused his rival, Ariz. Sen. John McCain, of "offering the same old gimmicks" instead of leading on the issue.

"What we are seeing here, from the solar panels that power this facility to the Bombard workers who built it is that a green, renewable energy economy isn't some pie-in-the-sky, far-off future," said Obama.  "It is now. It's providing cheap alternatives to $140 dollar a barrel oil now.  And it can create millions of additional jobs."

Obama blamed politicians in Washington, including previous administrations, of failing to act on renewable energy and said that failure has led to the United States falling behind nations like Germany in developing clean sources of power.

"The difference is, their government harnessed that technology by providing the necessary investments and incentives to jumpstart a renewable energy industry," said Obama. "Washington hasn't done that."

Obama said McCain was part of the "failure in Washington" that has "peddled false promises, irresponsible policy, and cheap gimmicks that might get politicians through the next election, but won't lead America toward the next generation of renewable energy."

He cited three proposals of McCain's, a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax, expanding offshore oil drilling, and a $300 million federal prize for inventing a next-generation car battery, as gimmicks and suggested that McCain only supported them because they poll well.

"When John F. Kennedy decided that we were going to put a man on the moon, he didn't go put a bounty out for some rocket scientist to win," said Obama, contrasting his own plan to McCain's.  "He put the full resources of the United States government behind the project and called on the ingenuity and innovation of the American people, not just in the private sector but also in the public sector."

Obama said he would invest $150 billion in renewable energy over the next ten years, eliminate tax breaks for the oil industry, force the automobile industry to adopt higher fuel-efficiency standards and charge oil companies for land they lease from the federal government but don't drill on.

Obama admitted that his plan would not immediately lower the price of gasoline but added that he would push for a second round of tax rebates and a $1,000 tax cut to 95 percent of working families to provide "real relief to the American people."

"I wish we could wave a magic wand and make gas prices go down. I understand how tough things are right now for folks," Obama said.  "But we can't just wave a magic wand."

Responding to Obama's remarks in a conference call organized by the McCain campaign, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) called Obama's proposals "ludicrous."

"He continues to oppose any additional exploration attempts domestically by the country. He has expressed an opposition to any expansion of nuclear generation capacity. And amazingly, he has opposed John McCain's visionary proposal of a $300 million prize for a change in battery technology," said Burr.  "I'm not sure that he's done anything other than mirror the inaction of the Democrat majority in the Congress."

Like his visit last month, Obama did not take press questions during his event at the Springs Preserve.  One reporter covering Obama in the traveling press pool during a tour of the facility said he "was never closer than a Hail Mary pass" to the candidate.