President Obama’s Penn State Visit to Center on Energy Research

President Barack Obama’s visit to Penn State University Park next week ‘will focus on the importance of work being done at the Energy Innovation Hub at the Philadelphia Navy Yard,’ the university reported.

University Vice President Hank Foley is principal investigator at the Innovation Hub.

‘Penn State is one of the places in the country focusing on energy efficiency,’ White House deputy communications director Jen Psaki said in a Friday conference call, according to the Penn State report.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu also spoke during the conference call, which was oriented toward the news media. According to Penn State’s account, Chu said that Obama, during his State of the Union address Tuesday, referenced work happening at the Energy Innovation Hub.

Specifically, Chu said, Obama’s mention of the country’s ‘Sputnik Moment’ was a reference to the sort of efforts being undertaken at the Innovation Hub.

‘It’s all about gearing up America’s intellectual force so we can develop these clean energy sources,’ Chu said in the conference call, as reported by Penn State.

The Energy Innovation Hub involves 11 academic institutions, two Department of Energy laboratories, five global industry partners, regional economic-development agencies and community colleges, according to Penn State. Foley is vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at the university.

Additional details about the presidential visit are expected to be released later Friday. Psaki said Obama is ‘really looking forward to visiting the facilities’ Wednesday at University Park.

It’s anticipated that Obama will make public remarks at Penn State, as well.

StateCollege.com will post more information as it becomes available.

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

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