Obama Presses Senate on Energy Bill

WASHINGTON (CN) - President Barack Obama promised to install a wind turbine and solar panels at the White House as he pressed the Senate last week to pass the far-reaching energy legislation that has already been approved by the House of Representatives.

"The House of Representatives passed an extraordinary piece of legislation," Obama said from the Rose Garden after meeting with Energy CEOs. "It holds the promise of millions of new jobs."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Thursday the loss of 467,000 jobs in June, which brings the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 9.5 percent after continuous job losses over the course of a year.

He called energy one of the pillars of recovery and prosperity. "It's now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future," he said, adding, "We're going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics."

The energy CEOs are looking to hire new people as they plan to double and triple in size over the next few years, Obama said.

"It's a choice between the past and the future," he said.

"Mr. President, when are you going to get solar panels and a wind turbine at the White House, sir?" a reporter asked.

Obama replied that there is no set date, but that the project is under way.

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