U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown addresses labor, energy meeting

CLEVELAND (AP) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio says the state and the nation need to find a boost in manufacturing for jobs to anchor a strong middle class.

The Democrat spoke today to an array of union leaders in Cleveland at the Ohio Conference on Labor in the New Energy Economy.

The conference aims to help unions figure out whether they can represent workers in green jobs.

Union leaders are worried as they watch the tough economy increasingly lead to cuts in labor-intensive jobs.

Advocates of alternative energy are hopeful about wind and solar power and the jobs they might create.