Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) praised President Barack Obama’s announcement that a U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Center will be established at UCLA.

The Center – one of only nine in the nation – will develop advanced sensors to monitor the use of energy in manufacturing.

Manufacturers use approximately one-third of the energy consumed in the country, and the new center will develop state-of-the-art technology to reduce and monitor energy consumption.

Lieu also praised the center for promoting technology that will create jobs in the Los Angeles area.

“[The] announcement of the establishment of an advanced manufacturing facility at UCLA is welcome news for Los Angeles, California and our nation,” Lieu said. “I applaud President Obama, Chancellor Block [and] the faculty and staff at UCLA for this innovative partnership that will certainly be an important step forward in energizing our manufacturing base – a key component of American economic leadership in the 21st century global economy. I look forward to any and every opportunity to support UCLA in this groundbreaking work.”