Obama says U.S. has to accelerate transition away from dirty energy

"Seven years ago, we made the single biggest investment in clean energy in our history. Here are the results. In fields from Iowa to Texas, wind power is now cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. On rooftops from Arizona to New York, solar is saving Americans tens of millions of dollars a year on their energy bills," Obama said Tuesday night.

The president noted that the U.S. has to accelerate its transition away from dirty energy.

"Rather than subsidize the past, we should invest in the future – especially in communities that rely on fossil fuels," Obama said, adding that he was going to push to change the way oil and coal resources are managed, so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and the planet.