GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Firm sells solar panels to itself, taxpayers pay	Post a Reply Back to Topics

Van_Halen Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,844 Points:640,255 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:13:20 PM Ignore Van_Halen Report Abuse A heavily subsidized solar company received a U.S. taxpayer loan guarantee to sell solar panels to itself. First Solar is the company. The subsidy came from the Export-Import Bank, which President Obama and Harry Reid are currently fighting to extend and expand. The underlying issue is how Obama's insistence on green-energy subsidies and export subsidies manifests itself as rank corporate welfare. Here's the road of subsidies these solar panels followed from Perrysburg, Ohio, to St. Clair, Ontario. First Solar is an Arizona-based manufacturer of solar panels. In 2010, the Obama administration awarded the company $16.3 million to expand its factory in Ohio -- a subsidy Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland touted in his failed re-election bid that year. The buyer, itself, First Solar Visit Washington Examiner for full article

Van_Halen

Champion Author
Atlanta

Posts:2,844
Points:640,255
Joined:Apr 2011

Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:13:20 PM

Ignore Van_Halen Report Abuse

A heavily subsidized solar company received a U.S. taxpayer loan guarantee to sell solar panels to itself.

First Solar is the company. The subsidy came from the Export-Import Bank, which President Obama and Harry Reid are currently fighting to extend and expand. The underlying issue is how Obama's insistence on green-energy subsidies and export subsidies manifests itself as rank corporate welfare.

Here's the road of subsidies these solar panels followed from Perrysburg, Ohio, to St. Clair, Ontario.

First Solar is an Arizona-based manufacturer of solar panels. In 2010, the Obama administration awarded the company $16.3 million to expand its factory in Ohio -- a subsidy Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland touted in his failed re-election bid that year.

The buyer, itself, First Solar
Visit Washington Examiner for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,012 Points:819,060 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2012 7:31:59 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse Night Owl asks a good question: "Why does the U.S. keep wasting taxpayer's money?" Apparently for three reasons: 1. This administration, as matter of policy, is opposed to the use of oil and coal for energy. Its policy is to try and foster other technologies and businesses as an alternative. These alternatives vary in their impracticality and uneconomic costs and limitations, which is why they are described as "alternative", rather than "major" or "current". Unlike oil and coal, they cannot compete in the marketplace. The government attempts to counteract these factors, which in themselves lead to businesses either not starting, or failing in the marketplace. The subsidies attempt to cover up these economic facts. 2. By handing out money, the government attempts to 'buy votes' or 'support' from people who otherwise might not support or vote for these politicians. Additionally, politicians can expect many of the benefiting individuals or groups to make campaign contributions to them. This creates a way for politicians to take taxpayer money and enrich themselves and their campaigns by 'laundering' the money through these 'loans' (which are often really 'grants', since they aren't repaid) and subsidies. 3. Being 'in the know' about coming subsidies and grants of taxpayer money allows 'friends' of the politicians to position themselves or form businesses who can then benefit by receiving this largess of the taxpayer's money. Items 2 and 3 above may be considered a form of 'corruption', but its legal, so how can you prevent it? [Edited by: E-Squirrel at 3/22/2012 8:34:37 PM EST]
doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,443 Points:837,860 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 9:48:05 AM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse Another example of why the technology isn't getting anywhere. It is the scam du jour and when people stop blindly throwing money at anything 'green' and start doing their due diligence when it comes to investments it might actually get somewhere. But why should these weasels change they have no incentive to.
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,502 Points:890,220 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 9:31:10 AM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse So if you hired fifty guys to dig holes and another fifty guys to fill them in would this be a sustainable business? We have to be careful with this "job creation" thing.
mkohly Veteran Author Chicago Posts:263 Points:24,245 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 6:52:49 AM Ignore mkohly Report Abuse From the article: "This isn't the first time Ex-Im has subsidized companies selling to themselves. In late 2000, for instance..." The corruption isn't new to this regime, but each new regime sure knows how to take advantage of the cash cows put in place by those that came before! THEY ARE ALL CORRUPT!
SavingInNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,783 Points:1,091,740 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 4:26:50 AM Ignore SavingInNC Report Abuse Obamanomics
feldos Champion Author Florida Posts:2,640 Points:549,000 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 10:50:47 PM Ignore feldos Report Abuse Problem is that this stuff is not even shocking any more, but should be!
MontanaMac Champion Author Washington Posts:1,736 Points:410,050 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 10:34:20 PM Ignore MontanaMac Report Abuse What a fraud and misuse of taxpayer money.
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,032 Points:699,430 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 10:32:06 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse What a joke.
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,288 Points:1,467,645 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:55:26 PM Ignore car253 Report Abuse Pay to play in reverse.
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,105 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:29:31 PM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse So if I get a government loan/grants and show increased sales by selling large amounts product to myself and the worst that happens is taxpayers will take up slack and I can do this time and time again????? How do I get on this Obama bandwagon!!!!!!!
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,049 Points:791,770 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:22:59 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse From the article: "Obama, Reid and most of the Republican leadership want to reauthorize Ex-Im this month and boost the amount of debt it can have outstanding." ------------------------------------------------------------------- Then BO, Harry Reid and most of the Republican leadership must be voted out. The Constitution does not authorize this and this is the reason that we are having so many financial difficulties. The Export-Import Bank is so fraught with corruption. The folks in Ohio did US a service by rejecting Gov. Ted Strickland's reelection bid. End this nonsense NOW!
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,892 Points:646,540 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:22:31 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse Our country is becoming a green energy oligarchy.
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,013 Points:1,187,260 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:08:40 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse Stop all those subsidies, please.
RitaVespa Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,971 Points:790,310 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 8:48:29 PM Ignore RitaVespa Report Abuse Energy Policy in action.
Wanda127 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,489 Points:913,055 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 8:42:37 PM Ignore Wanda127 Report Abuse Another Obama failure the we the taxpayers have to pay for.
JasioN Champion Author Boston Posts:15,972 Points:3,163,445 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 8:35:59 PM Ignore JasioN Report Abuse I agree ... you just cannot make this stuff up... Soon Hollywood is going to be buying right to the story
Rappcommuter Veteran Author Virginia Posts:470 Points:553,515 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 8:26:57 PM Ignore Rappcommuter Report Abuse It is really a shame how these kind of antics continue to happen. I thought that maybe I was being cynical when Obama talked about a more open government. I guess I was right to be cynical. How sad it really is.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:7,545 Points:1,785,625 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 7:22:16 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Why does the U.S. keep wasting taxpayer's money?
nfldude Champion Author San Diego Posts:3,857 Points:444,605 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 7:14:27 PM Ignore nfldude Report Abuse more promised change from the most transparent administration of all time.
Meowmy Champion Author Florida Posts:1,293 Points:348,105 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 7:03:20 PM Ignore Meowmy Report Abuse Key word: Subsidy.
rbrk02 Champion Author Rhode Island Posts:5,730 Points:815,280 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:57:42 PM Ignore rbrk02 Report Abuse Wow...........you just cannot make this stuff up...
ToolinIt Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,803 Points:885,445 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:51:31 PM Ignore ToolinIt Report Abuse Amazing but not surprising. [Edited by: ToolinIt at 3/19/2012 7:52:05 PM EST]
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,508 Points:1,358,010 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:44:04 PM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse This must be another Obummer program.
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,012 Points:819,060 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:35:38 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse As fine an example as any why the government should not be trying to pick winners and losers; they seem to specialize only in losers; by definition.
DOS All-Star Author Illinois Posts:668 Points:929,995 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:19:57 PM Ignore DOS Report Abuse Well, I should hope that First Solar would be its own best customer. "This week, First Solar unloaded its St. Clair wind farm to NextEra Energy, and so First Solar's financial troubles don't threaten to put the taxpayer on the hook for this deal." So with the support of the the Export-Import Bank subsidy, First Solar built solar panels in Ohio, transported them to Canada built up the Wind farm with them and then sold the Wind Farm. Cha-ching sale complete! Good one!
bwatchingu Champion Author Arkansas Posts:1,735 Points:599,670 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:18:31 PM Ignore bwatchingu Report Abuse sounds like fraud,money laundering
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,147 Points:2,369,420 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 5:54:24 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse obamanomics at its finest.........abo 2012
ClarkSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,073 Points:1,010,430 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 5:40:55 PM Ignore ClarkSC Report Abuse What a joke.
graceman Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,968 Points:1,158,725 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 5:33:19 PM Ignore graceman Report Abuse Isn't that double jeopardy?
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,365 Points:1,978,945 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 5:19:24 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse If they can be gamed like that - get rid of it.
Track79 All-Star Author Maine Posts:802 Points:600,015 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 5:11:04 PM Ignore Track79 Report Abuse So?
ktbaeohana Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:2,301 Points:421,775 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:51:20 PM Ignore ktbaeohana Report Abuse Not good. bad judgement.
bandannaman Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,849 Points:365,610 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:30:58 PM Ignore bandannaman Report Abuse Unbelieveable
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:607,950 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:19:05 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse chemist74, the named politicians and First Solar are working together. A little more digging will show that these politicians received kickbacks in the form of campaign contributions. Just like the Solyndra fiasco
Charley_7 Veteran Author New York Posts:293 Points:206,455 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:16:44 PM Ignore Charley_7 Report Abuse So... it's the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac of solar companies?
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:05:55 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse 2 Timothy 3:1-5 King James Version (KJV) 2 Timothy 3 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:14,815 Points:2,598,445 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:05:37 PM Ignore bicycler Report Abuse Interesting but not nice!
knutzAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,248 Points:372,680 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 4:02:51 PM Ignore knutzAL Report Abuse Oh ....... really!
buckets42 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,690 Points:329,550 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:45:12 PM Ignore buckets42 Report Abuse Business as usual.
LEGION57 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:1,676 Points:283,110 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:35:49 PM Ignore LEGION57 Report Abuse oh jeez- what a rip.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:13,510 Points:2,395,980 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:23:02 PM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse It seems that either the thieves working as businessmen are outsmarting the thieves working as politicians or they are working together.
hornet17 Champion Author Vancouver Posts:1,323 Points:440,865 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:14:31 PM Ignore hornet17 Report Abuse not the first time someone takes advantage, won't be the last.
HYEgasCA Champion Author Fresno Posts:2,111 Points:909,250 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 3:14:30 PM Ignore HYEgasCA Report Abuse "The green movement is trying to dictate, control, regulate, mastermind our lives. This is what we see every day. They want to discuss how many children we can have because the man is a creature which damages the atmosphere because of breathing. They are dictating us what kind of cars we can use, how big the refrigerators we can have. I speak as someone who lived in a communist era and who knows what it means to eliminate freedom, as someone who knows what it means to eliminate the market economy, someone who knows what it means to regulate, to command, to mastermind the economy from above." This was in a speech Vaclav Klaus, president, Czech Republic stated. The Czech President lived under communism.