Dozens Of Republicans Sent Letters Asking For Clean Energy Grants And Subsidized Loans

[Playinghardball]

Source: ThinkProgress

Republicans have seized on the Solyndra controversy to go on a witch-hunt against all clean energy programs authorized by the Department of Energy. Instead of narrowly scrutinizing the loan that subsidized Solyndra, a company that utilized a Republican-created program and had initially gained approval from the Bush administration, Republicans are on a war path to defund all clean energy programs — despite the fact that these Republicans previously were proponents of the program when it helped clean energy companies in their districts. As Climate Progress’ Stephen Lacey has reported, Republicans are now expanding their inquisition to include killing a program that employs veterans to install solar panels.

As Lacey and others have reported extensively, Republicans have exploited Department of Energy clean energy programs for years without complaint. Some senators and representatives who voted to slash funds for ATVM (Alternative Technology Vehicle Manufacturing) loans previously urged the Department of Energy to speed up its approval process. Above, ThinkProgress compiled pictures of Republican lawmakers taking credit for DOE clean energy and green jobs grants:

– Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) congratulating Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. on winning a Department of Energy grant for a 1.1-megawatt solar farm.

– Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) attending the groundbreaking for Sustainable Energy Options for Rural Nebraska, a project funded in part by the Department of Energy.

– Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) speaking at the opening ceremony for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, a clean energy research laboratory funded by the Department of Energy.

More at: http://thinkprogress.org/report/clean-energy-cons/