Solyndra? Damn the results, full speed ahead!

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

stockholmer  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-27-11 04:41 AM
Original message
How the GOP Is Using Solyndra to Kill Clean Energy 
 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-aff...


Last Friday, House Republicans achieved a much-sought-after goal: to criminalize the pursuit of clean energy in America.

Granted, Congress has not yet passed laws to jail entrepreneurs and engineers who dare to develop technology that will reduce the stranglehold that Big Oil and Big Coal have over our lives, but it might not be far away. If nothing else, last Friday’s hearing in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in which executives of Solyndra, the now-bankrupt solar company that blew through $535 million in federal grants and, along the way, made President Obama look like a just another shill for corrupt clean-energy hustlers, was a triumph of political theatre. There was Brian Harrison, the CEO of Solyndra, and Bill Stover, the company’s chief financial officer, sitting ashen-faced in front of the committee, refusing to answer questions (they pleaded the Fifth) and looking for all the world like stonewalling sleazebags.

Who knows what laws, if any, these guys have broken? And who knows what tawdry details the unraveling of Solyndra will reveal? (The New York Times had a good backgrounder http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/us/politics/in-rush-t... last week, and the Los Angeles Times ran a piece http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/24/business/la-fi-... this morning that reveals that the federal government was far from the only sucker for Solyndra – private investors like Richard Branson also lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the company’s collapse.) But at this point, that hardly matters. House Republicans have already got what they want – video images of the clean-tech entrepreneurs looking like crooks.

They know that most Americans are far too stupid about how Silicon Valley-style capitalism really works – that companies on the cutting edge of innovative new industries like solar (or, a generation ago, PCs or the internet) fail all the time. That is how good ideas are separated from bad ideas. In fact, failure is a badge of honor in Silicon Valley – it means at least you got off your ass and tried to make a go of your ideas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2009853

Government does not pick winners and losers in the marketplace of ideas. It only picks losers. Winners don't need government subsidies.

DrunkenBoat (486 posts)      Tue Sep-27-11 04:44 AM
Response to Original message
1. I don't quite buy this analysis. Big Energy dominates solar & wind already,
 so why would they want to torpedo them?

chollybocker  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-27-11 06:03 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. Petrol is more profitable.
 It's like shorting MaEarth.

Low prices: the poor man's addiction

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2009853

[Erasmus]

that companies on the cutting edge of innovative new industries like solar (or, a generation ago, PCs or the internet) fail all the time.

I had a solar panel in a calculator in the 5th grade, some 25+ years ago, dolt.

[JohnnyReb]

In fact, failure is a badge of honor....  it means at least you got off your ass and tried to make a go of your ideas.

What about the failures that never got off their ass?....you know....the DUmmies?

[DLR Pyro]

Who knows what laws, if any, these guys have broken?

Sure, that's why the execs are pleading the 5th.

[DumbAss Tanker]

stockholmer  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-27-11 04:41 AM
Original message
How the GOP Is Using Solyndra to Kill Clean Energy 
...Who knows what laws, if any, these guys have broken?

Well, apparently their own lawyers identified one or two.

[jukin]

The DUches are really on a new meme of adoring failure and hating success.  is this out of moron.org or whitehouse.gov.

[DefiantSix]

Sure, that's why the execs are pleading the 5th.

Steel on target, sir.  Excellent point; probably sufficient to earn you a "Racist/Sexist/Bigot/Homophobe" namecalling from the nearest DUmbshit.

[DefiantSix]

The DUches are really on a new meme of adoring failure and hating success.  is this out of moron.org or whitehouse.gov.

It's laying the groundwork for SCOAMF.gov 's "legacy".

[GOBUCKS]

that companies on the cutting edge of innovative new industries like solar (or, a generation ago, PCs or the internet) fail all the time.

The difference is that every "green" industry, without exception, relies totally on siphoning money from the public till to stave off bankruptcy.

Not one can, or ever will, earn a profit in the marketplace.

"Green" industries, without exception, are scams constructed for the sole purpose of expropriating taxpayer funds.

[Wineslob]

Green" industries, without exception, are scams constructed for the sole purpose of expropriating taxpayer funds

Exactly what I would point out.
 I would dare the DUmmies to find a "green" industry, project, or what-not that would survive WITHOUT taxpayer funding and POST ABOUT IT with links.


Not gonna happen, but there's allways *hope*. (no change though)   

[JohnnyReb]

Exactly what I would point out.
 I would dare the DUmmies to find a "green" industry, project, or what-not that would survive WITHOUT taxpayer funding and POST ABOUT IT with links.


Not gonna happen, but there's allways *hope*. (no change though)   

I know an electrician that saves about 40% on his electric bill. He has a tall tower with a wind turbine on it, a large solar array, a shed full of lead/acid (auto) batteries and inverters. They are a family of 3 that are not home much so their bill can't be much more than mine, $100/$150 a month....I don't see how that is saving money or the environment.

 

[tanstaafl]

this morning that reveals that the federal government was far from the only sucker for Solyndra – private investors like Richard Branson also lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the company’s collapse

If he had been as big of a donor and bundler as Kaiser was, Branson would be sitting pretty good right now. Kaiser and a few other got written in on the guarantee as first in line to get their money back.

[DLR Pyro]

this morning that reveals that the federal government was far from the only sucker for Solyndra – private investors like Richard Branson also lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the company’s collapse

The big difference here is that the private investors like Branson et al chose to take the risk and invest in solyndra with their own money. The Taxpayers didn't have any say in the government investing our money in this company.  obama wanted this to be his "look at what a great thing I did moment" when/if solyndra became successful.  Now that it is a flop, he shrugs his shoulders and tries to put as much distance between himself and the steaming turd that solyndra has become.

[dutch508]

Well, apparently their own lawyers identified one or two.

I think they meant the GOP...

[RWKindaGuy]

The DUches are really on a new meme of adoring failure and hating success.  is this out of moron.org or whitehouse.gov.

Mmmm, that's a tough one, but I'm going with moron.org.   

[Erasmus]

Exactly what I would point out.
 I would dare the DUmmies to find a "green" industry, project, or what-not that would survive WITHOUT taxpayer funding and POST ABOUT IT with links.


Not gonna happen, but there's allways *hope*. (no change though)   

I forget the exact numbers, but oil yields something like 26 units of energy for every unit of energy put into it to develop it.  Ethanol is about 1.3 units of energy for every unit spent developing it.  The latter is simply going to cost more, there's no magical way around it.  At unsubsidized prices, nobody would buy ethanol.  Other alternative energies are worse on the price to yield ratio.  Solar is not "cutting edge".  It's been around for a long time.  The market simply isn't impressed with solar at this stage of the game.  It's expensive when there are cheaper alternatives.  But liberals want to force people to use the more expensive good.  This always results in economic inefficiencies and disaster.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I think they meant the GOP...

Sure, I know that, what I mean is that it appears the Solydra execs' own lawyers obviously identified at least one criminal law their clients may have violated, therefore telling the execs to invoke.  Thus it appears that other people besides the GOP Congressmen seem to think there are criminal violations here.

[Wineslob]

I forget the exact numbers, but oil yields something like 26 units of energy for every unit of energy put into it to develop it.  Ethanol is about 1.3 units of energy for every unit spent developing it.  The latter is simply going to cost more, there's no magical way around it.  At unsubsidized prices, nobody would buy ethanol.  Other alternative energies are worse on the price to yield ratio.  Solar is not "cutting edge".  It's been around for a long time.  The market simply isn't impressed with solar at this stage of the game.  It's expensive when there are cheaper alternatives.  But liberals want to force people to use the more expensive good.  This always results in economic inefficiencies and disaster.

Along with that problem (bolded), ethanol can only make up a VERY small percentage of our fuel needs. Besides, when you use up food for fuel...............you're going to have problems, which we see today with rising food costs.

[delilahmused]

I just read on FR that he's approved 2 more loan guarantees to solar companies to the tune of $1B.

Cindie

[thundley4]

I just read on FR that he's approved 2 more loan guarantees to solar companies to the tune of $1B.

Cindie

And you can bet that there are tie to campaign donors somewhere in the mess.