Obama awards $2.3B in clean energy credits

It said in a statement the credit, from funds earmarked under an emergency $787 billion stimulus package Obama signed in February 2009, would create 17,000 new U.S. jobs and would be matched by an additional $5 billion in private capital.

High unemployment is one Obama's most pressing domestic challenges and a monthly payroll report released earlier served a reminder that labor market conditions are still grim. U.S. unemployment remained stuck at 10 percent in December, while businesses unexpectedly shed 85,000 jobs.

"The Recovery Act awards I am announcing will help close the clean energy gap that has grown between America and other nations while creating good jobs, reducing our carbon emissions and increasing our energy security," Obama said.