LAS VEGAS -- Former President Bill Clinton said Monday the U.S. would "rock the world" if it paved the way for an energy independent state, territory or nation.

Clinton told an energy summit in Las Vegas it's imperative "to convince people this can be done," arguing that it's to America's economic benefit to see it happen.

Clinton said Puerto Rico would be a good place to start, since it imports most of its power at a high cost to residents. He also rattled off several foreign nations that have low power demand and are sunny and windy.

A spokesman for a utility industry trade group called Clinton's agenda "ambitious" but said it includes suggestions that the nation's utilities would support, such as expanded research for carbon dioxide storage and accelerating a shift toward plug-in hybrid electric cars.