NEW ENERGY IN THE FIRST DEBATE

Presidential Candidates Talk Solyndra, Energy Investment During First Debate

4 October 2012 (Solar Industry)

“Renewable energy was given little attention during the first televised debate between Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama…But Solyndra - the failed thin-film PV manufacturer that has become synonymous with what critics believe are misguided investments in solar by the Obama administration - received a specific mention from Romney…

“…[T]he two sparred over the topic of subsidies and incentives for both renewable energy and fossil fuels…Following Romney's comments, Obama did not directly defend his administration's investments in renewable energy, though he had reiterated his support of solar during an earlier debate statement…In response, Romney stated that the levels of oil and gas production have risen in spite of Obama's policies, which he characterized as unfriendly to producers of these energy sources…”

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“Solyndra indirectly came up once again during the debate's final moments, when Romney stated that ‘about half’ of the renewable energy companies receiving government funding have failed…

“…[C]ongressional investigations over the past year have focused on whether Solyndra's Department of Energy loan guarantee was improperly received due to the involvement of Obama campaign donor George Kaiser, whose foundation held a stake in Solyndra. The Republican leadership of the House of Representatives…has repeatedly insisted that laws were broken - assertions that have been disputed by Democratic lawmakers…”

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