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 WASHINGTON (AP) - This is Earth Day and President Barack Obama is marking it by promoting alternative energy.

Obama is touring a plant in Newton, Iowa, where Maytag used to make washers and dryers. Now, it's where a Texas company builds towers for wind turbines.

Dozens of former Maytag workers are employed at the plant.

It's the kind of transformation the "green" energy spending in Obama's stimulus plan is designed to support.

There's a political angle, too. Obama has already spoken of a second term and political professionals know it's never too early to campaign in Iowa.

Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses 15 months ago made him the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.