The White House is seeking congressional and public support for offering $5 billion in tax credits for manufacturers to build new or expand existing factories to produce solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars and other renewable energy-related goods.

Vice President Joe Biden was the chief marketer for such an idea on Wednesday, about a week after President Obama outlined a new plan to create more jobs. Biden spoke about the new tax incentive proposal while hosting business leaders in Washington, D.C. The National unemployment rate stands at 10 percent.

The incentives would mirror a program that was put in place this year as part of the stimulus package. The $2.3 billion program gives manufacturers a 30 percent tax credit.

The manufacturing tax credit program has proven popular, according to Biden, though the administration has yet to award any of the money. The Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Energy are reviewing the first batch of applications and plan to announce the recipients by Jan. 15. Recipients will have four years to complete their factory plans.

Some folks in the solar industry already are concerned that the $2.3 billion might spread quite thin given the types of manufacturers that would qualify for the tax credit.

The Solar Energy Industries Association recently launched a campaign to expand the tax credit for solar manufacturers only. Lawmakers introduced bills for such solar tax break in the Senate and the House last month.