Solyndra, Obama Administration Had Mutually Beneficial Relationship

Solyndra, the stimulus-backed green energy firm filing for bankruptcy, had a fairly cozy relationship with the Obama administration. The company's Fremont, California plant was the setting for a May 2010 speech by President Obama, where he touted the stimulus and its development of green manufacturing. Here's part of what the president had to say then (emphasis added):

[W]e’ve placed a big emphasis on clean energy.  It’s the right thing to do for our environment, it’s the right thing to do for our national security, but it’s also the right thing to do for our economy. 

And we can see the positive impacts right here at Solyndra.  Less than a year ago, we were standing on what was an empty lot.  But through the Recovery Act, this company received a loan to expand its operations.  This new factory is the result of those loans. 

Since the project broke ground last fall, more than 3,000 construction workers have been employed building this plant.  Across the country, workers -- (applause) -- across the country, workers in 22 states are manufacturing the supplies for this project.  Workers in a dozen states are building the advanced manufacturing equipment that will power this new facility.  When it’s completed in a few months, Solyndra expects to hire a thousand workers to manufacture solar panels and sell them across America and around the world.  (Applause.) 

And this in turn will generate business for companies throughout our country who will create jobs supplying this factory with parts and materials.  So there’s a ripple effect.  It’s not just localized to this area.

The White House made Solyndra an example on its blog, too. The administration created a sleek video featuring Solyndra employees praising the stimulus for allowing the company, which had previously shut down due to the recession, to reinvest in its new factory:

At the Daily Caller, C. J. Ciaramella reports that Solyndra's investors and executives gave large donations to the Obama campaign in 2008, totalling over $87,000.