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Feds ignore rules and use stimulus cash to buy Chinese solar panels
Government officials blame unfair competition from China for the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, but such concerns didn’t stop the federal government from breaking stimulus program rules to use Chinese solar panels atop a federal building housing the offices of a senator, congressman and several agencies.
Even the contractor questioned whether Chinese-made panels could be used under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus program that mandated use of U.S.-made products. His query in early 2010 was dismissed and the General Services Administration moved forward with using the Chinese panels on the Sen. Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale, Ill., records show.
Questions about the panels, which were assembled overseas, were raised in a four-page advisory memo sent by the inspector general to the GSA in the summer of 2011, but the findings take on added significance as government officials increasingly place blame on Chinese subsidies for troubles in the U.S. solar market.
Since last summer, Solyndra LLC and another solar company, Abound Solar, have filed for bankruptcy despite receiving generous federal loan guarantees. After both bankruptcies, government officials were quick to place blame on subsidies from China that allowed foreign solar panel manufactures to sell their products below cost, squeezing U.S. solar companies.
Meanwhile, the contractor on the Illinois building project, J.R. Conkey & Associates, initially questioned GSA officials on whether solar panels assembled in China could be used under the stimulus program, but a procurement officer told the company to proceed, according to records.
“We did what we were told to do by the federal government,” Jim Conkey, the company’s president, said Monday.
According to the inspector general’s memo, Conkey officials asked the GSA contracting official “whether non-ARRA [Recovery Act] compliant solar panels could be used” on Feb. 16, 2010, before the installation of the panels.
“The contracting officer directed Conkey to ‘proceed with the panels specified in the schedule contract since they have already been determined as satisfying all applicable contract clauses including the ARRA Buy American Act requirement,’ ” the memo stated.
willie t
September 19th, 2012
* head * desk * repeat *
old_oaks
September 19th, 2012
Hippies are using the solar tubes to make art, it was planned from the beginning, they just needed a way to transfer the materials.
Bad Brad
September 19th, 2012
You can rest easy. The new purchase of 200 million rounds of ammo (most of it in .308 Hmm) by DHS was all made in America.
cato
September 19th, 2012
Former US senator Paul Simon, socialist/progressive of Illinois, would be proud of the chinese solar panels were paid with your tax dollars.
Stirrin the B.S.
September 19th, 2012
So the reality is that these cheap Chinese made panels actually cost us, the purchase price, PLUS the lost federal loan monies to Solyndra, Abound Solar and other failed “investments”.
We piss away billions of dollars to US start-up companies and then buy from the Chinese. Brilliant!!!
This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the green loans were nothing more than political bribes and kickbacks to f-o-b’s.
Alastair
September 19th, 2012
We buy only German Solarblpanels here in Australia (my company) for their quality and robustness. Alternatives are Chinese – American panels are not available here in Oz!
BUT – as a 100% Pro American Anglo-Aussie Engineer, I find it tragic that whenever I open a new Dell Fileserver box or PC, an Enterprise Cisco Switch, whatever, not ONLY is the product Made in China, but also the cardboard box, the documentation, the plastic bags – ALL Made in China!
I am from the era of DEC Computers, HP Computers, IBM, etc – American Engineering Excellence that was the Envy of the Rest of the World! Technical Genius and Excellence.
Where has American excellence gone – it has been given to China at the expense of the American economy, jobs, R&D, etc etc etc.
I despise Obama and the truly Godless vermin that surround him and pray for a Romney / Paul landslide, but this problem goes Way Back, and it is a worldwide problem – its all about maximizing Profit for the Short term and sacrificing the Long Term! When I worked for Honeywell, the sales guys were always rewarded – trips to Hawaii and elsewhere, but We, the Technical Engineers that had to deliver on the short term targets of the sales jerks, received nothing but long hours, callous, nights away from family…..
You get my point!
As an Evangelical Christian Zionist, I believe we have passed the point of no return. As Sodom and Gomorrah Mk II advances, so we who walk in In the Light must prepare for the coming time when we must go underground. That time is Now.
Blessings to all my American Friends.
Alastair in Oz!
Sorry for such a long post….
Toaster
September 19th, 2012
The overriding theme of the 0bama administration is lawlessness. Not enough dead people on voter roles, change the immigration laws by Executive Order in the name of “fairness”. Auto Goonions need help? Perform a “bailout” that gives them power and money while it ignores the legal standing of bondholders.
This green energy scam is a payoff to Democrat donors. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was much more illegal BS going on.
Bad Brad
September 19th, 2012
Alastair:
Great post. Solar Panels are the tip of the Ice Berg. We gave that technology away. Semi Conductors, Flat Panel Displays, and Solar Panels all use the same technology, PVD (Physical vapor deposition). This process requires an amazing amount of machined product (what I do). Where is it? China. I don’t know how we will ever get it back now.
If your looking for American Engineering Excellence, it alive and well and employed by our defense contractors.
Hybrid Lemon
September 19th, 2012
Chinese Solar Panels…
“CAUTION: Do Not Expose To Direct Sunlight”
Alastair
September 19th, 2012
Thanks Bad Brad – I would like to chat further – I have many close ties with the IDF and technology partners in Israel.
IOWNTHEWORLD can you please share my email address with Brad.
would be much appreciated!
Brad I am Back iin Israel in November.
Best regards, Alastair.
Bad Brad
September 19th, 2012
Alastair:
I will look forward to talking with you.
Brown Eyed Girl
September 19th, 2012
Do as I say, not as I do.
Alien
September 19th, 2012
“Obama Doesn’t Remember How Big the Debt Is ”
http://91.204.209.188/~newxipin/r.php?nin_u=Oi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9NkQ1NTM4NHdpVWc%3D&nin_b=1#038;feature=share
Alien
September 19th, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D55384wiUg
Sorry
Anonymous
September 19th, 2012
The Houswe controls money & spending, where are they?…oh, yeah, Boehner
Blacksmith8✡
September 19th, 2012
Seriously? You actually expected THIS ‘administration’ to follow published RULES?
muhahahahaaaa
gasp
muahahahahhaaaa
They’re really only guidelines anyway. Of course I would be imprisoned if I broke even one of the ‘rules for the little people’.