Department of Energy

9:49 AM, Mar 28, 2013 • By GEOFFREY NORMAN

First there was Solyndra. The company was going to deliver cutting edge solar technology. It didn't happen and the company is now defunct after running through half a billion or so of government money.

Now, it appears that Fisker, which was going to revolutionize the automobile industry, is on life support in spite of similarly large loan guarantees from the Department of Energy, which really knows how to pick them. The car was going to be both cool and green. As Alex Davies notes in this account of the company's fall, “Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio were huge fans.”

Al Gore was an early backer of the company.

Of course.

6:31 AM, Jul 24, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

President Obama, who is in California for campaign events, fundraised from key Solyndra figures last night. Via the pool report:

Chu thumbs up!

2:31 PM, May 18, 2012 • By DANIEL HALPER

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics, takes to Facebook today to review the Avengers, a movie about a bunch of superheroes banding together to save the world, “which focuses on a new, limitless clean energy source called ‘The Tesseract,’” according to Chu.

12:06 PM, Nov 15, 2011 • By DANIEL HALPER

The Washington Post reports on newly released emails that reveal "the Obama administration urged officers of the struggling solar company Solyndra to postpone announcing planned layoffs until after the November 2010 midterm elections"

12:27 PM, Nov 4, 2011 • By MARK HEMINGWAY

Earlier this week it was reported that the White House considered a last-minute taxpayer bailout of Solyndra, the failed solar panel maker that received a $529 million loan guarantee. One of the more interesting aspects of that deal—which would have had taxpayers purchasing as much as 40 percent of the company—was that it was allegedly recommended by Wall Street firm Lazard Ltd. According to the Associated Press:

12:14 PM, Nov 3, 2011 • By MICHAEL WARREN

Politico reports:

A House panel investigating Solyndra voted Thursday to subpoena internal White House documents on the failed California solar company.

2:30 PM, Nov 2, 2011 • By MARK HEMINGWAY

Thankfully, at least one man in the federal government has been awfully busy on behalf of the American taxpayer:

4:50 PM, Oct 31, 2011 • By MICHAEL WARREN

Beacon Power Corporation, which filed for bankruptcy late last week, was the recipient of a $43 million loan guarantee from the Energy Department. Campaign contribution information from Open Secrets shows that Beacon Power's CEO F. William Capp donated to both Barack Obama and two Massachusetts Democrats..

12:02 PM, Oct 31, 2011 • By MARK HEMINGWAY

Well, now we know the reason for the Friday night news dump. When the Obama administration finally announced that they would be launching an independent review of Department of Energy loan guarantees, they were likely trying to get out ahead of this:

1:00 PM, Oct 25, 2011 • By MARK HEMINGWAY

One year ago today, President Obama said the following:

I believe in tax breaks for companies like the one that I just visited, companies that are investing here in the United States, small businesses, American manufacturers, clean energy companies. I don't want solar panels and electric cars made in Europe or Asia. I want them made right here in the United States with American workers. That's the choice in this election.

7:00 PM, Oct 6, 2011 • By MICHAEL WARREN

Department of Energy loan program director resigns.

Obama still unpopular, still leading in North Carolina.

Romney campaign embraces subtlety in criticizing Rick Perry's economic plan.

7:00 PM, Sep 28, 2011 • By MARK HEMINGWAY

New York Times: "As Scorn for Vote Grows, Protests Surge Around Globe"

Politico: "Defiant Team Perry's plan: Hit harder"

3:37 PM, Sep 28, 2011 • By MICHAEL WARREN

The Wall Street Journal reports today that the Department of Energy has approved loan guarantees for two solar energy projects:

One deal, a $737 million loan guarantee for Solar Reserve LLC, paves the way for construction of the 110-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar Energy facility, which will use an array of mirrors to focus the sun's heat and power a steam generator.