Barack Obama is now officially the 44th President of the United States.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real,” Obama said in his inaugural speech. “They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.”

Over 1.4 million people crowded onto the National Mall to watch Obama become America’s first black president.  The overwhelming supoprt for Obama, who currently holds an 80 percent approval rating, is primarily due to America’s distaste for Bush, who has left office with the lowest ratings in presidential history.

Obama has just taken the weight of the multiple woes of American (and much of the world) upon his shoulders, and has pledged to do his best to help curb the economic crises and bring an end to the war in Iraq.

Obama also has plans to turn to renewable energy for the clean technology sector, planning to add 20 gigawatts or more of wind power by 2012. Welcome, Barack Obama!