This is from the "Statement of George H. Friedman, etc. (click here) One of the observations he makes in his memo is the fact there are far larger amounts of money in the Energy Department Budget than usual and there is also added personnel to help with the administration of those funds. The Energy Department will have to return to normal eventually and this is the plan as expressed by Mr. Friedman.
Path Forward
Large portions of the funds allocated to the Recovery Act have yet to be spent. Accordingly, we have ongoing and planned audits and inspections of Recovery Act funds in a number of high-risk areas such as Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, and Renewable Energy Programs. Additionally, our investigative efforts continue.
We are also in the process of evaluating contingency plans to address problems with transitioning to a post-Recovery Act funding posture. Of the most immediate concern is how the Department plans to deal with a significant downsizing of the contractor workforce.
I have before there was a lag in distribution of Recovery Act funds due to the way the States incorporated them into their budgets and legislation. So, that was expected as far as I was concerned. Of course, the Right Wing media immediately went to work proving the monies were not going to create jobs at all. I don't think the ink was dry on the paper after the President signed it before that started and we all know the Tea Baggers where hard at work before inauguration. The point is, there has been volumes of propaganda from November 4, 2008 that has never adequately been addressed in a reasonable voice. That is the direct responsibility of the media. So, misguided views of the electorate is due to a lot of that missing voice of reason. Again, the memo by Mr. Friedman was in 2011 and I am sure there are more monies now working in the country.
The oversight was good and still is. This is what I found discouraging; while the President and Congress worked immediately to place dollars in the USA economy to recover it from the crash, the companies are not necessarily trustworthy. In the Energy Assistance Program the federal inspectors found shoddy work and substandard materials. That is not the government's problem, that is a problem of our society. This program has existed since 1970. I find that disappointing and to realize these programs reflect on the good intentions of our legislature and President is not realistic. They cannot be expected to buffer fraud and abuse, but, only police it. What is going on in America today that allows this?
The REAL reason the job situation is still fluctuating in the USA, not in Europe, is due to the fact ONLY ONE-THIRD of the Recovery monies are in circulation. There is still work to be done and I hope the President's Cabinet is eminently aware of all the monies that still remain in the USA Treasury. I would hope they would either push for their distribution OR Minority Leader Pelosi might review the funds remaining and decide if they are better retained for deficit reduction or redistribution to other uses. I think it is time to evaluate how things are going, even though there has been good oversight, to be sure there aren't changes necessary.
One other things about this Solyndra mess. I realize there are other US Solar companies that have struggled with Solyndra, but, if that never happened we would not have increased surcharges on China at this point. So much for letting China walk all over USA manufacturing. That said, what is the deal with the Solyndra I found on the web? Is it the parent company of the USA company? (click here) Because, if that is the case, then there is really something gone awry. To realize the California facility was not only founded by a genius, but, also had a solar panel model well established already is a sure thing not a gamble. And a successful company to still remain after the USA attempt failed means there is still a viable company to be responsible for the venture gone bad. Maybe it is an old website or it is completely unrelated? Odd. The Logo in California is the same as Europe.If you have questions about Solyndra products,
In the U.S: nasales@solyndra.com
In Europe: emeasales@solyndra.com
