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Does a Big DOE Loan Guarantee Lower Investor/Owner Solar Investment Risk?
Published by R. G. Lucas in Solar • 9/14/2011 9:24:58 AM
Even with a "clean energy" guaranteed United States government guaranteed loan for $535 million to Solyndra in 2010, the company recently canceled a planned public stock offering and file for bankruptcy.

Was it possible that:

"1. The Bush team tried to conditionally approve the Solyndra loan just before President Obama took office.

2. The company's backers included private investors who had diverse political interests.

3. The loan comprises just 1.3 percent of the Department of Energy's (DOE) overall loan portfolio. To date, Solyndra is the only loan that's known to be troubled." (Solar Power, Stephen Lacy, 13 SEP 2011 2:33 PM).

Was this a great investment by two venture capital groups, Argonaut Venture Capital and Madrone Capital Partners (the VC arm of the founders of Walmart?

We are interested in your opinion on the interaction between DOE loan guarantees for solar, "green" venture capital investments, and the amount of risk the ultimate owners of solar plants are truly absorbing.

On 14 September 2011, the Wall Street Journal reported the House is now probing the Solyndra (DOE) Loan.

Send us your comments and help us understand your opinions.