WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu told Sacramento Metro Chamber Cap-to-Cap delegation that the region’s collaborative efforts have been “instrumental” to the success of leveraging $200 million in stimulus funds for clean energy projects and $127 million for the Sacramento smart grid project—“one of the largest awards of its kind in the country.”

Speaking in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Chu addressed the delegation of 300 from the Sacramento region, currently here in the nation’s capital on the annual advocacy program, working together to lobby for the six-county region’s top priorities.

Introducing his remarks, Chu said the Obama administration is currently creating policy to provide the nation with energy security and taking steps to turn the country into a clean energy leader—to position it ahead of countries like China that are now scrambling to do the same.

Quoting President Obama, Chu said “the future of our economy and nation’s security are inextricably linked to one challenge—energy.”

Calling clean technology and green energy the “next industrial revolution,” Chu said, “We will not give up leadership. We will be exporting these technologies and not importing them.”

“Ultimately, wind and solar will be powering our country by the next century,” he said, with power both stored locally in new batteries and also dispatched over long distances. Needed, however, are development of new liquid metal batteries that can be as small as a laptop battery or as large as a swimming pool. Also, a new power grid distribution system needs building.

He strongly advocates for retaining the making of solar panels and other new technology in the United States. “If the U.S. doesn’t pay attention to nuture manufacturing in the U.S., we will continue to lose the technology lead and prosperity.

Chu detailed other impending technologies—biomass, biofuels, the smart grid—all which are sectors where the Sacramento region is currently leading and developing.

Over the course of the four-day program, Cap-to-Cap delegates held nearly 250 meetings with elected and agency officials. Of those, nearly two dozen were held to promote efforts to make the Sacramento region the Green Capital of the U.S.

In welcoming delegates, Rep. Doris Matsui—who hosted the meeting with Chu—noted that delegation “is advocating for the right issues” and that “clean technology and green energy” are now a national priority and that Sacramento has the building blocks to be a national leader and needs to “seize the moment.”