We're blogging live as Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta introduces a panel addressing a clean energy agenda that will bolster the middle class and create jobs.  

Podesta (moderator):

"To build a green economy we need to shape strong markets, provide better access to low-cost financing and build a globally competitive infrastructure to support businesses that drive economic growth."

He asks the panelists how we continue with this momentum and how do we build on certain policies going forward. 

Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Sutley: 

"There is no doubt that the clean energy economy is one of the keys to our future."

Sutley is saying that we need to invest in electric vehicles to create jobs and praising the Recovery Act as an opportunity for the clean energy economy to grow and to prosper.

She is discussing offshore wind development and its potential to be a huge resource and states that we [the Obama administration] will continue to make this a priority.

Leo Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers

President Gerard:

"We need to work with all the segments of our society so that we can develop a manufacturing strategy and an industrial plan."

"We need the money in the 48C so that we can develop the infrastructure to make the components to go into that [manufacturing strategy]"

President Gerard is discussing the proper allocation of resources in order to develop a sound infrastructure due to the fact that America is working with limited resources.  

William J. O'Rourke, Vice President, Sustainibility and Environment, Health and Safety Alcoa

O'Rourke:

O'Rourke is discussing the importance of recycling and its critical role in creating a sustainable clean energy economy.