Congressman Fred Upton recently unveiled legislation attempting to do away with the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program.  This is the same program that funded the disastrous solar energy company, Solyndra.  ATR has written a letter this week to show its support for this legislation.  Here is the full letter.

Dear Representative,

On behalf of Americans for Tax Reform and millions of taxpayers nationwide, I urge you to support Congressman Fred Upton’s “No More Solyndras Act”.  This bill would eliminate the Department of Energy’s (DoE) loan guarantee program that so famously funded the failed solar energy company, Solyndra. Solyndra’s bankruptcy confirmed what we already knew: the Department of Energy is no venture capitalist firm. The “No More Solyndras Act” will ensure that no more taxpayer money is wasted on Congressional pet projects or quid-pro-quo deals for campaign contributions. 

With half of the solar companies receiving loan guarantees now in bankruptcy, clearly DoE’s investments were not sound. After receiving $500 million in taxpayer subsidies, Solyndra ran out of money at the end of 2010. Doubling down on their poor investment, the Obama administration restructured the Solyndra loan in early 2011 only to have the company go under at the end of the year.

The Department of Energy has already issued $15 billion worth of loan guarantees and could grant an additional $34 billion under current law. The “No More Solyndras Act” would completely defund the loan guarantee program and would bar any loan guarantees for applications received after December 31, 2011. Additionally, the act would ban any restructuring of existing loans, so no more Solyndra-esque activity can continue.

Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is willing to stake the American people’s money on failing companies that have not been thoroughly investigated and were rushed through the door.

It is for these reasons that I urge you to support Congressman Upton’s legislation to protect American taxpayers’ money. 

Sincerely,                                                                                           

Grover Norquist                                                             Mattie Duppler                                   

President                                                                       Executive Director

Americans for Tax Reform                                              Cost of Government Center