WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said today the nation must move quickly to develop clean and innovative sources of energy after years of delay.

"We've seen enough," Obama said at a White House event intended to draw attention to his energy proposals. "We can remain the world's leading importer of foreign oil, or we can become the world's leading exporter of renewable energy."

The president's comments came following a weekend in which administration officials indicated his campaign promise to explore new sources of renewable energy is one element of his budget that is nonnegotiable. Obama is devoting much of his time these days to build support for his $3.6 trillion budget proposal.

Speaking to entrepreneurs in the fields of energy, Obama told them their country needs them to create jobs and be inventive. In turn, he said: "Your country will support you. Your president will support you."

The administration's $787 billion stimulus package includes $39 billion for the Department of Energy and $20 billion in tax incentives for clean energy.

Obama's budget calls for making a tax credit for research and experimentation permanent. Overall, the budget would invest billions in research designed to reduce climate change and guarantees loans for companies that develop clean energy technologies.

Facing some political pressure to scale back all of his priorities, the president said energy innovation cannot wait. Progress itself can take years, he said.

"Sometimes you have to fail before you can succeed," he said. "And often it takes not just the commitment of an innovator, but the commitment of a country to innovation. Often what's required is the support of government."