More good news for the expanding wind energy industry in the United Sates.

Yesterday Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, reinforced the importance of alternative energy production for the future of America by promising to make renewable energy a top priority.

Not only did Salazar issue an official order to make the production, development and delivery of renewable energy a top priority for the Department of the Interior, but he established a task force dedicated to energy and climate change and identifying the best locations on U.S. public soil for large-scale production of wind power, as well as solar, geothermal and biomass energies.

“More so than ever, with job losses continuing to mount, we need to steer the country onto a new energy path,” said Salazar. “One that creates new jobs and puts America out front in new, growing industries, one that promotes investment and innovation here at home, and one that makes wise use of our domestic resources.”

General Electric pushed renewable energy this year, running two spots at this year’s nail-biting Super Bowl. The first ad was for G.E.’s SmartGrid technology, while the second ad (above) was on wind energy to promote their ecomagination site. Do you think it was a success?

If you’ve put a bunch of cash in renewable energy, word on the street is that even during these dire economic times, you shouldn’t sell. Last year was a rough one as investors lost their asses when several prominent alternative energy stocks fell by 70% or more. However, with the change in administration, investors are hoping Barack Obama’s focus on renewable energy will give the industry the financial boost it needs. According to a new survey conducted by Waggener Edstrom,  investors are predicting that stocks in renewable energy will surpass the broader markets.

“Despite a deeply challenging business climate, the financial community continues to view alternative energy stocks with measured optimism,” Lev Janashvili, vice president of Waggener Edstrom, said.

The school of thought among investors is that expected increase in oil prices will boost renewable energy stocks. Oil prices—which have crashed down amidst the current economic crisis—will bounce back this year, creating a more mainstream interest in alternative energy sources once again.

Barack Obama spoke at Cardinal Fastener, a Bedord, Ohio factory that produces parts for wind turbines.

Obama vowed to put a half million people to work, building wind turbines and solar panels, creating more jobs in the renewable energy industry.

“Renewable energy isn’t something pie-in-the-sky,” Obama said. “It’s not part of a far-off future. It’s happening all across America right now. With all the bad news going on out there, with all the news of jobs lost and businesses shuttered, jobs were created right here.”