Letter to the editor: Government should not prop up ‘green’ companies

In “stimulus” packages President Barack Obama helped many “green” companies — with terrible results.

Solyndra (solar) went bankrupt after federal loan guarantees of $535 million — followed by a string of others.

Colorado’s Abound Solar declared bankruptcy after receiving $70 million, estimating liabilities from $100-$500 million.

Sen. Harry Reid supported Nevada Geothermal Power receiving $98.5 million federal guarantees. It keeps running large losses after several years. (Reid worked hard to pass the $814-billion stimulus, saying it would create countless jobs.) Geothermal is efficient in the right conditions, but when the federal government “solves” a problem, the solution is often worse.

Now the administration wants to spend $62 million for the Navy to use biofuels in many ships, subs, etc., during exercises. However, Naval officials confirm it will cost $26/gallon compared to $3.60 for conventional fuel. Two GOP senators have stopped this so far.

Also, various environmental groups (even the Sierra Club) oppose using biofueled vessels to sink obsolete warships, saying toxins will contaminate the sea, and we should recycle instead. They have filed complaints that it violates U.S. dumping regulations, depriving resources to recycling industries, spending $27.6 million, and costing hundreds of jobs.

We must demand that representatives of both parties stop all spending not specifically authorized in the Constitution and cut regulations, letting free enterprise work again. Otherwise, tell them you’ll vote them out of their jobs.

Law of government: The larger the unit of government, the more it costs, the slower it moves, and the less it does what we expect.

Duane Stahl

Valley City, N.D.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics