Underscoring the high priority the Obama Administration is putting on environmental and energy issues, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator designate Lisa Jackson were among the officials attending the Environmental and Clean Energy Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. last night.

New Mexico Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and several current and former members of Congress were also on hand to reiterate the support of Congress for aggressive clean energy programs. General Wesley Clark also joined the celebration, reminding the audience of the importance of domestically produced energy.

With a crowd of close to one thousand people from the energy and environmental communities on hand, Dr. Chu and Ms. Jackson addressed the cheering crowd with promises to take on and win the battle to limit greenhouse gas emissions while creating domestic jobs in new green energy industries.

“This was a sensational event and with all the competing balls going on, for Dr. Chu and Ms. Jackson to take the time to recognize and attend our event speaks volumes,” said Douglas Durante of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Co-Chairman of the Ball. “Senator Udall also thrilled the crowd given his lifetime of environmental leadership that he will continue in the Senate. And, General Wesley Clark is taking an active role in biofuels and other issues so we were delighted to have him with us.”

Former EPA Administrator William Reilly, and current Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality Margo Oge echoed Lisa Jackson’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work to develop clean and green energy.

The Host Committee putting on the Environmental and Clean Energy Inaugural Ball was comprised of more than 50 organizations in the energy and environmental movement, in addition to numerous corporate sponsors. “We are all working to be part of the solution to a series of connected challenges,” said Durante. “The President recognizes that energy can be a common thread to many issues. The music, the crowd, and the atmosphere were electric, and what a rocking start this was to the next four years,” said Durante.

Photos from the Ball will soon be available in the Photo Gallery at www.environmentalball.org.