July 2 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama praised innovative energy companies for creating jobs on a day of “sobering news” that employers shed 467,000 jobs in the U.S. in June.

“It took years for us to get into this mess, and it’s going to take us more than a few months to turn it around,” Obama said in a Rose Garden appearance after meeting with energy business leaders.

“These are folks whose companies are helping to lead the transformation towards a clean-energy future,” Obama said. “Energy is one of the pillars” of a new foundation for the U.S. economy, he said.

Among those meeting with Obama were chief executive officers John Berger of Standard Renewable Energy Group LLC, Stephanie Burns of Dow Corning Corp., and Amit Chatterjee of Hara Software, as well as Michael Splinter, president and chief executive of Applied Materials Inc., and FPL Group Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Robo, the White House said.

“The CEOs here told me that they’re looking to hire new people, in some cases to double or even triple in size over the next few years,” Obama said. “They are making money, and they are helping their customers save money on the energy front.”

Obama said the U.S. will have to “change how we use energy.” He also said Energy Secretary Steven Chu will seek ways to improve energy efficiency, including the use of solar panels, at the White House.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kate Andersen Brower in Washington at kandersen7@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 2, 2009 15:23 EDT