Invitation-Only Access Planned for Obama Remarks at Penn State

President Barack Obama’s visit to Penn State on Wednesday will include a talk at Rec Hall, the university reported Saturday night.

But ‘public attendance’ at the event will be by invitation only, the White House announced in a separate announcement Saturday.

‘While at Penn State, the president will tour labs focused on energy-efficient building solutions and deliver remarks on the importance of investing in innovation and clean energy to put people back to work, grow the economy and win the future,’ the White House statement reads.

According to the university, Obama will share those remarks in a 12:15 p.m. appearance at Rec Hall. More details about access to the gathering will be released as information becomes available, Penn State noted in its statement.

Both the White House and the university confirmed Friday that Obama plans to visit University Park on Wednesday. They said his trip will hinge on energy research, including the Energy Innovation Hub for which Penn State is providing leadership in Philadelphia.

That hub, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, is being funded in large part by $122 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. Its core goals include greater energy efficiency in buildings and a reduction in carbon pollution.

Obama made clean energy a centerpiece of his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Earlier coverage

• Penn State to Lead $159 Million Energy-Efficiency Initiative (Aug. 25, 2010)

• UPDATE: Obama Will Tour Penn State Labs, White House Reports (Jan. 28, 2011)

• President Obama’s Penn State Visit to Center on Energy Research (Jan. 28, 2011)

• Sources: Obama to Visit Penn State Next Week (Jan. 28, 2011)