Solar company that Obama visited will shut down

B_Marius567 · 09-01-2011

(Reuters) - Solar start-up Solyndra LLC, succumbing to pressure from lower-cost Chinese rivals, said it has suspended operations and plans to file for bankruptcy, 15 months after President Barack Obama visited a company factory that was to be expanded with the help of a federal loan guarantee.

The Chapter 11 filing, expected next week, will make Solyndra the third U.S. solar company to seek bankruptcy protection in the last month. Former Wall Street high flyer Evergreen Solar Inc filed for Chapter 11 two weeks ago, followed four days later by SpectraWatt Inc, a private company that was backed by Intel Corp.
Representative Henry Waxman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce said the bankruptcies "are unfortunate warnings that the United States is in danger of losing its leadership position in the clean energy economy of the future ... We should be doing everything possible to ensure the United States does not cede the renewable energy market to China and other countries."

NYCdude · 09-01-2011

when were we the leader in clean energy? lol.

dandelion · 09-01-2011

Does the US have any interest in adopting this technology? Isnt that really why the companies have failed?

SilverTrain · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandelion

Does the US have any interest in adopting this technology? Isnt that really why the companies have failed?

Ironic that the OP obviously intended this thread to be an indictment of Obama, when it's really a comment on the failure of the public and the elected representatives to push for the implementation of this technology.

Industrialsize · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverTrain

Ironic that the OP obviously intended this thread to be an indictment of Obama, when it's really a comment on the failure of the public and the elected representatives to push for the implementation of this technology.

Technology that President Obama has been advocating for since his election........

zrr6zrr6 · 09-01-2011

$500,000,000+ down the drain again...

houtx48 · 09-01-2011

The Europeans are far ahead of the US on solar technology both in use and manufacturing. I guess it's the old story about you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

Klingsor · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by houtx48

The Europeans are far ahead of the US on solar technology both in use and manufacturing. I guess it's the old story about you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

Or perhaps the well-known "horticulture" analogy is more apt for the U.S.: you can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think.

Nick8 · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverTrain

Ironic that the OP obviously intended this thread to be an indictment of Obama, when it's really a comment on the failure of the public and the elected representatives to push for the implementation of this technology.

Precisely. Let the blame be laid where it belongs; the President can prod, promote and push these things but he cannot mandate them, important to our future though they clearly are.

The OP is a one-note, and it's becoming increasingly tinny.

NYCdude · 09-01-2011

Yea but the President can also fail at leading. Yes, I acknowledge that we spent three years proving he was American but he needs to strap on a pair and start fighting. Stop conceding and start fighting, if the country votes for Perry/Romeny/Bachmann, so fucking be it. Enough of this cowardice. Go big on this jobs plan, he's already caved on the date, don't cave on the important part.

B_enzia35 · 09-01-2011

The article says it's not because America doesn't want these technologies, but China can under price their stuff. And that's even after half a billion in "loans".

I wouldn't mind these technologies, but don't force them on me. If it's a viable product in the market, companies will strive to make it better/cheaper.

sargon20 · 09-01-2011

Meanwhile back at the ranch the shithole that is courtesy of GWB $60 billion in waste and fraud was uncovered. But let's stay focused on the Obama $500 million.

B_enzia35 · 09-01-2011

Hmm, seems to me the reliance on contractors stems from cutting DOD and USAID in the 1990's. From the article. Say, who was president then?

sargon20 · 09-01-2011

Play it again Sam:

Bush's Reign of Error: A Timeline

SilverTrain · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by enzia35

Hmm, seems to me the reliance on contractors stems from cutting DOD and USAID in the 1990's. From the article. Say, who was president then?

Are you serious? After Bush/Cheney lied us into a massive double war, and farmed out tons of "work" (much of which our troops and civil servants could have done) to Cheney's companies and his friends' companies, who got the jobs as the result of no-bid contracts that massively overpaid them to "police" the streets of Baghdad and build shitty dorm rooms that were unfit to live in, etc....

You're going to blame Clinton for that?

Hello Mr. Limbaugh, I wish I could say it's a pleasure to meet you, you partisan hack.