POULSBO – The answer to economic recovery lies in turning to another sort of green besides money, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Bainbridge Island) told the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club Friday morning.

His speech to local community leaders touched on a myriad topics, but the main focus was on the national economy.

“We are starting to recover,” Inslee said. “But obviously it is way behind where we want to be.”

While Inslee discussed credit for small businesses, Wall Street reform and the health care bill, he remained true to his environmental beliefs in pushing energy alternatives to stimulate the economy.

“The race is on,” Inslee said. “And the race is on to see what country will be growing its economy based on electric cars and electric batteries and we have some good competitors.”

China is trying to change the country’s dependence on Saudia Arabian oil to their lithium batteries for electric cars, Inslee said. America is beginning the process of creating lithium battery plants in Michigan.

Washington state isn’t getting left out that lithium battery loop, he said.

As lithium batteries become more mainstream, Washington companies such as Seattle-based EnerG2 and V2Green, will be prepared to get a piece of the economic pie, as both the new companies work with clean energy alternatives.

“We have some real job-creation prospects in the state of Washington around these technologies,” Inslee said.

Even though the economy is in a small positive upswing, the federal government is still facing an insurmountable deficit. Federal stimulus money likely won’t resurface, Inslee said.

“I don’t think you’re going to see another large stimulus investment,” Inslee said. “And the reason is that we’re starting to experience some economic growth and we’ve got to try and address the government deficit.”