AFP - The administration of President Barack Obama announced Friday it was awarding 2.3 billion dollars in tax credits aimed at promoting "green jobs."

The funds from the 787-billion-dollar stimulus bill approved by Congress last year will provide credit for investments in manufacturing facilities for clean-energy technologies.

Officials said the projects are expected to create more than 17,000 jobs.

The awards will cover 183 manufacturing facilities for clean energy products across 43 states, officials said. They include aid for products ranging from solar energy technology and wind turbines to electrical grid improvements.

Officials said some 30 percent of these projects would produce new products or services in 2010, and that must be placed in service by 2014.

"Building a robust clean-energy sector is how we will create the jobs of the future," said Obama.

He added that the fund "will help close the clean-energy gap that has grown between America and other nations while creating good jobs, reducing our carbon emissions and increasing our energy security."