ALBUQUERQUE -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu is in New Mexico to get a firsthand look at what federal researchers are doing to capitalize on energy from the sun's rays.

Chu toured the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories on Thursday before hosting a town hall with students at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Sandia researchers are working with private companies to develop clean energy technologies.

While many states already require a certain percentage of a utility's electricity to come from renewable resources, Chu says establishing a federal standard would serve as a big step toward creating a nationwide marketplace that would demand more investment dollars and technological advancements.

The Obama administration has said it wants to double the share of electricity from clean energy sources by 2035.




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